Kristoff suggests making donations as gifts

In his New York Times column today, Nicholas Kristoff discusses alternatives to giving "the latest murder-and-mayhem video game" or other meaningless gift.
He proposes donations be made to nonprofits in the recipients name.
I like that idea.
One of the nonprofits he touts is familiar to me. SOIL, online at oursoil.org, protects soil resources in Haiti, a land ravaged by deforestation.
I interviewed Sarah Daniels back in August. She makes indoor-composting kits that use worms to chew up kitchen waste. She donates all her proceeds to SOIL.
So Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas, and consider donations as gifts this time of year.