Holiday Gift Guide 2009

Looking for the perfect gift to give the special HR pro in your life? The Renegade HR 2009 Holiday Gift Guide is here to help!

You’ll find links to some of my favorites for this holiday season (and you can shop right from your computer).

Rethink the Holidays

Renegade HR is all about helping people do amazing things. This holiday season, you can do something amazing by giving someone clean water to drink, food to eat, or a second chance at life.

Here are some alternative holiday gift ideas. If you’re looking for something more traditional, check out the next section.

Give Water

water

Did you know dehydration is one of the leading causes of death in developing nations? For just $24, you can provide one person fresh drinking water for 20 years. If you’re looking to give on a bigger (corporate) scale, for $5,000 you can buy a well for a village of 250 or more people.

Check out Charity:Water for more information.

Give Food

I don’t know about you, but I get really cranky if I haven’t eaten in a few hours. Imagine what it’s like to not eat for days!

Every dollar you donate to Feeding America helps provide 9 pounds of food and grocery products to men, women and children facing hunger.

For a more tangible impact, swing by your local food bank and ask them what they need.

Help the Homeless

I live in New England, where the winters are particularly harsh. As you pull out your clothes for the winter, consider dropping off the stuff you don’t want anymore at your local shelter. They can probably also use blankets and other supplies.

If you’re in the Greater Boston area, Pine Street Inn does really great stuff to help people transition out of homeless.

Help Animals

dog-cat

Want to help four-legged friends? Check out the Human Society’s Save an Animal Now campaign.

Their commercials are a little much, but they do good work (and they’re less obnoxious than PETA). Definitely check them out.

If You Still Want to Buy Stuff

Rather give (or receive) a more traditional holiday gift? No worries! Here are my favorites.

FYI, many of the links below are affiliate links.

Digital Camera

Know someone looking to get more involved in employer branding through social media? Help them make the most of online multimedia with a digital camera!

sony-cybershot flip

My favorite is the Sony Cybershot (it’s what I use). It takes great still photos, and pretty good video as well.

If you’re looking for higher quality video, I’ve heard great things about the Flip HD (though I haven’t used it myself, yet). The only downside to the Flip? It doesn’t take still pictures.

iPod

ipod

The iPod is one of my favorite inventions ever.

It holds all of my music and my favorite photos, and works as a portable movie player when I travel. If you’re in the training and development world, it’s also a great way to back up your presentation in case your laptop crashes.