You know that nagging feeling when you forget something? Then you look for the essentials like your wallet and emergency MAC lipstick? We’ve had that troublesome itch while drafting our gift list this year, and after checking it twice for dad / work wife / BFF who fake-calls when we need to flee a date, we realized what was missing. We've covered the people we know and love, but what about those we don't know but really love because of their impact?

Yes, we’re all tired of hearing the phrase “since March 2020,” but the ups and downs of the pandemic—and the social turmoil that came with it—showed just how important it is to consistently show up for others. Research also shows giving back boosts your physical and mental health, so to help heal ourselves and our communities, we’re filling out your nice list with organizations working to solve issues we’ve all encountered these past 20 months.

Sustainability
We’re not going to lie… the planet needs a lot of work. But since we can’t give up, we can give back to those fighting for change— like to orgs Zero Hour and the Sunrise Movement, 2 campaigns mentoring the next generation of eco-minded activists and policymakers. While those Gen Z-ers take on societal systems, other leaders are protecting ecological ones. One Tree Planted plants a seedling for every $1 donated, and the Eden Reforestation Projects tackles poverty and environmentalism by hiring locals in low-income countries to redevelop exploited lands.

Social Justice
Black Lives Matter, Stop AAPI Hate, and women’s rights movements have all had the spotlight recently, but they deserve the same level of attention whether we’re in times of peace or protest. And while voting / donating / boycotting to dismantle systemic oppression is essential, caring for the health and safety of marginalized communities and their allies is just as important. That’s where safe spaces like the Asian Mental Health Collective, the Loveland Foundation, and Women for Afghan Women come into play so we can fight, rest, repeat.

In Your Backyard
Donating to national organizations can feel like applying a clear topcoat: you know you’re making a difference, but you can’t always see it. That’s why we take the “give to your local shelter” cliché very seriously. Whether it’s stocking a nearby food bank, buying a fresh pack of panties and socks for women in temporary housing, or helping neighborhood tweens navigate life, it makes an immediate, visible impact.

The Newsette Club
This isn’t technically a “category,” but there are so many Newsette alums who we just know you’d love to be reminded of this season—like Eva-Hernandez Simmons, the program director spearheading Sierra Club’s efforts to ensure a greener future. There’s also Carmarion D. Anderson-Harvey, who’s fighting for trans visibility at the Human Rights Campaign. Abroad, Choose Love founder Josie Naughton is providing “fast, flexible, and transparent” assistance to refugees, and back in the States, Nadya Okamoto is working to end period poverty while Raquel Willis upholds Gloria Steinem’s legacy at the Ms. Foundation.

2-for-1
Helping our fellow woman is great, but so is a new mattress. In a perfect world, we could afford both, but until Rihanna becomes president and ushers in that new era, we can shop businesses that donate for us. Here’s a list of 35 brands that give back year-round. This way, you can provide school supplies to low-income students while snagging a weekend bag, feed 100 (!) people by ordering a new apron, and support victims of abuse with an obscene haul of our Cuyana wishlist (aka the whole catalog).