Trying to find the perfect gifts for your friends, family and co-workers gives many of us anxiety as the holiday season approaches. This year, rather than fruitlessly searching for something that may quickly be stored away and forgotten about, consider these three gift options that will each grow in their own ways for years to come.

Give the gift of greenery
After the holiday lights and decorations are packed away, and the greenery is all covered in snow, winter can feel a bit dreary. Help brighten up the indoors by gifting a plant. For your foodie friends, consider an assortment of fresh herbs or a kit for growing mushrooms at home. Got a friend who’s a little forgetful? Cacti are low-maintenance, durable plants that can bloom into astonishing colours.

Support post-secondary schooling
Whether you’re a parent or grandparent, aunt or uncle, one gift you can give children now that will help nurture their future is a contribution to their Registered Education Savings Plan, or RESP. The investment made now will grow over time until the child needs to withdraw the funds to further their education. Plus, the federal government contributes up to $500 a year in grants to the fund.

Seek donations that multiply
Many charitable organizations have partnerships with governments and corporations that provide matching donations, so your individual contribution is multiplied. One example is World Vision’s gift catalogue which includes items like an emergency food package that will be multiplied seven times by the World Food Programme, helping a $25 gift grow to $175. Other multipliers in the catalogue contribute to education, gender equality and food security.

Learn more about the gift catalogue at worldvision.ca/gift