These days, many parents are throwing “no gifts” birthday parties, where they request that guests attend their party without bringing presents. Whether it’s because their child has too many unused toys or they want to reduce waste, these “no gifts” parties are becoming more and more popular. According to a survey from WhatToExpect done in 2024, 13 percent of surveyed mothers said they put “no gifts” on their party invitations for their children.

If you feel uncomfortable showing up empty-handed to a birthday party, don’t worry! You can still bring a gift – just not a physical one. Consider gifting a child a donation in their honor to an organization or cause that either you want to educate them on or they themselves are passionate about.

If you’re looking to gift a charitable birthday present to a friend, family member, or loved one, consider Second Chance Animal Services! We offer a variety of ways that you can give the gift of giving, including:

• Becoming a Monthly Pet Pal Champion: As a Monthly Pet Pal Champion, you can donate as little as .50 cents a day to pets in need. Your donation benefits pets in more ways than one; by helping them get the medication they need, spayed or neutered, and even rescues at-risk pets. You can include your honoree’s name in your donation, and they will then be honored on the Second Chance website!
• Give a One-Time Donation: A one-time donation in honor of a child’s birthday helps us give pets the care they need to live long, happy lives. Your donation goes toward veterinary care and finding animals their forever homes.
• Purchase from Our Wish List: Perhaps you want to give a physical gift – but for animals! Consider purchasing for our wish list, which has items such as toys, food, leashes and collars, as well as cleaning and medical supplies so we can give local animals excellent care.

At Second Chance, we also offer Party for Pets, a program that celebrates children who give back to and are passionate about animals. When children ask for gifts for our shelter pets instead of birthday gifts for themselves, they’ll be gifted with party favors for their upcoming birthday and a t-shirt. When they drop off their gifts for the animals, they’ll also receive a tour of the animal shelter!

Gifting charitable gifts is great for a number of reasons. If you’re donating to a charity on behalf of a child, you’re teaching them to support causes they care about and give back to their local communities. Your gift can make a lasting impact and impression in the life of a child and the charity that benefits from your donation.

Teaching children to give back and support causes they’re passionate about is one of the greatest gifts you can give them. It’s also beneficial that they learn from a young age to treat pets and animals with kindness and to care about their well-being. Click here to view Second Chance’s donation resources and volunteer opportunities.