Give the gift of giving this festive season

Plus, there would be less wrapping and packaging going to landfill, less stress for gift-buyers, less clutter in our homes, and more joy.

The Good Registry makes it simple to avoid holiday or birthday gifts that you don’t want and help charities like Alzheimers NZ instead – so it’s good for the planet and for good causes!

With the gift giving season upon us, and more and more of us becoming concerned about our impact on the environment, it seems like a great time to consider ways we can spread more joy and less waste.

Deb Wood did this by pledging her 60th birthday to Alzheimers NZ through The Good Registry after facing the personal struggles of dementia with her mother: “After reading about The Good Registry it was a “no brainer” for me.”

The Good Registry have created two simple ways to give:

• You can create your own Good Gift Registry and ask people to donate to a charity you choose, instead of buying gifts.
• You can also give Good Gift Cards instead of traditional gifts, to enable others to make donations to charities they care about.

We’re only able to do what we do with the support of good people like you.

So by choosing to support our work, you’re telling your family and friends that although you appreciate gifts, you would love even more for them to donate to a cause that affects around 80% of New Zealanders in some way at some point in their lives.

Here’s some tips to get started with a Good Gift Registry.

• First up, set up your new registry – it is quick and easy
• Tell your friends and whānau why you decided to give instead of receive for your birthday or holiday gifts.
• Let them know how their donation will help – for example, $10 will enable Alzheimers NZ to provide practical resources to two families who are dealing with a dementia diagnosis.
• Most of all, be creative and make it personal to you.
• Share your registry page online via social media and by email.
• Remember to tag and thank your supporters – show them some love. ?

Or, you can also do good simply for others with a Good Gift Card:

• Click here to buy a Good Gift Card, which will be emailed to you straight away.
• You can then email it or print it for your recipient.
• They use it to donate to their favourite causes – easy!

Deb raised more than $400 from her birthday registry, and found it hugely rewarding. “You feel that it’s making a difference to someone in need.”

The holidays can indeed be a difficult and lonely time for the tens of thousands of New Zealanders who are affected by dementia. Choosing to swap material (and all too often unwanted) gifts for a Good Gift Registry or Good Gift Card is a great way to show your support during the festivities.

So Meri Kirihimete and a big thank you to all the Good Sorts who have chosen to help Alzheimers NZ continue our work all year round. You’ve raised over $7,000 for Alzheimers NZ this year!

And to those of you who would like to give more joy and less waste, be sure to check out the Good Registry website.