Gift giving, whether for birthdays, holidays, anniversaries or other occasions, gives enjoyment to the recipient, as well as the giver. And during times when hardships may keep joy to a minimum, people are looking for ways to spread the happiness that gifts bring, not only to their family and friends, but to everyone.

Traditionally, gift giving has been a family-and-friends affair. However, many people are looking to hang on to the happiness they feel when they give gifts while also making a difference in the lives of those less fortunate, whether it be locally or across the world. ChildFund International offers just a few ways people can think outside the traditional gift box:

A gift of nutrition

What do pigs, corn and bean seeds, mosquito nets, solar lanterns and soccer balls have in common with the Nintendo Wii? Well, not much, except the price. A Wii now costs $199; these other items cost about $190.

While the Wii has dropped in price, and it may provide hours of fun for a family of four in the U.S., these other items can often mean the difference between life and death for children and families in the 31 countries where ChildFund International works.

ChildFund's Gifts of Love and Hope catalog allows people to buy individual gifts for children and families who need it most. A pig in Indonesia, for example, costs $24 and can provide a family nutritious meals as well as a means of income. A $13 mosquito net can protect children and families from malaria in The Gambia and Afghanistan.

Literacy for a brighter future

Books are key to learning how to read, learning and using your imagination. Getting lost in a good book at any age is a favorite memory for many people.

But children around the world are in need of books. ChildFund International's Gifts of Love and Hope catalog can make that happen. A $7 textbook can help a student learn in a Liberian classroom; $14 can provide five story books to a children's center in Sri Lanka; and $38 can provide reference books for many children and youth to use in a school in the Philippines.

For more information, visit www.ChildFund.org.