What to give the homeless person on your list

Advertising agency Taxi is giving the homeless jackets that can be stuffed with newspaper for additional insulation. To their credit, they are producing 3,000 of the jackets instead of something meaningless to celebrate their 15th anniversary and instead of providing gifts to their clients. The jackets are insulated by being stuffed with newspaper. For some reason, they’re giving out the jackets in March; however, the thought still counts.

Pivot Legal Society in partnership with Mountain Equipment Co-op is handing out 500 waterproof blanket/tarps printed with legal rights for the homeless called “Rights Blankets” this Christmas [Disclaimer: I work for Pivot and am involved in this project.].The rights printed on the blankets include the fictional international law right that “Everyone has the right to adequate shelter,” as well as practical rights such as “You have the right to be in public spaces,” and “You have the right to panhandle.”

Vancouver group Spare the Cold is donating backpacks full of essentials over the holiday season to the homeless in Vancouver, Victoria and Toronto. They’re expanding rapidly, just like the homeless population in all three of the cities that they serve.