Five Ways to Give Back on Mother's Day

Sure, most moms would be happy to have a nice brunch or a box of chocolate for Mother’s Day. But if you want to make her feel really special this year, consider giving her another gift in addition to your regular present: the gift of giving. Here are five ideas for making this Mother’s Day an event to cherish.

Buy her a gift through GoodShop.com . You can purchase a bouquet of flowers, a bottle of her favorite perfume, a fondue set from Williams-Sonoma, or just about anything else her heart desires from more than 1,000 online retailers. Just do your shopping through GoodShop.com, and up to 30 percent of your purchase price will go to the charity of your (or your mother’s) choice.

Make a donation and send a Mother’s Day card through Women for Women International . When you make a contribution to this international humanitarian relief nonprofit group that’s helping women in war-torn societies rebuild their lives, you’ll also be able to reward your mother with a beautiful handmade card, designed by a woman participating in the organization’s Rwanda program. Or, for $27 a month, you can sponsor a woman in a developing country on your mother’s behalf, and she’ll receive letters and photos from her sponsoree. This can be a remarkable way to make a true impact on two women’s lives: your mother’s, and the woman she is helping on the other side of the world. Raise money for this nonprofit and other nonprofits.

Take part in a Breast Cancer walk together . One in every eight women in the world will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in her life: if your mother hasn’t battled the disease, it’s likely one or more of her friends or relatives has. Mother’s Day is the unofficial kickoff date for breastcancer fundraising events, and you’ll find opportunities for Breast Cancer walks and bike rides in cities all over the world.  The Breast Cancer Network of Strength hosts the “Walk to Empower” in 16 cities around the United States: check out their site to learn more, and spend some quality time on the road with your mom this Sunday. If there’s not a walk available in your area, make a donation to the Breast Cancer Network of Strength or the Susan G. Komen Foundation in her name instead.

Make a donation in her name to Feed the Children . All mothers care about children: not just their own, but those in developing countries, who may be struggling to survive. Help your mother make a difference to the lives of little ones in need this year with a contribution to a group like Feed the Children, which profives food, medicine, clothing, and other essentials to children and their families in 118 countries throughout the world.

Volunteer to build houses with your mother for Habitat for Humanity . After taking Mom out for a big brunch, here’s a great way to work off those extra calories—while helping low-income families in your area at the same time. This year, more than 7,000 women are expected to join in Habitat’s “Women Build Week”—check out their site to find a building event near you. If you can’t find one within range, make a donation to Habitat for Humanity to help fund their construction efforts and ensure that every family has a safe and affordable home to call their own.

By Kathryn Hawkins