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One of the founding tenets of The Philadelphia Citizen is to get people the resources they need to become better, more engaged citizens of their city.

We hope to do that in our Good Citizenship Toolkit, which includes a host of ways to get involved in Philadelphia — whether you want to contact your City Councilmember about the challenges facing your community, get those experiencing homelessness the goods they need, or simply go out to dinner somewhere where you know your money is going toward a greater good.

Find an issue that’s important to you in the list below, and get started on your journey of A-plus citizenship.

Vote and strengthen democracy

Stand up for marginalized communities

Create a cleaner, greener Philadelphia

Help our local youth and schools succeed

Support local businesses

50+ Gifts To Give Joy and Do Good

The Citizen’s annual guide to gifts for the people — and the city — you love. (Suck it, Amazon. We’re shopping local!)

50+ Gifts To Give Joy and Do Good

The Citizen’s annual guide to gifts for the people — and the city — you love. (Suck it, Amazon. We’re shopping local!)

While the rest of the world is going hog-wild for Black Friday, why not sit back, take a deep breath, and find peace in the fact that, when you live in Philly, you can score great gifts for everyone on your list that also happen to give back. Every item on this curated list can be found through a local nonprofit or indie shop — which means that for each dollar you spend, you’re in some way giving back to our beloved city.

Whatever, however, and with whomever you celebrate: Happy everything!

For Birds fans:

Saquon Barkley’s instantly legendary hurdle is already being incorporated into next year’s edition of Madden. This Kelly green tee pays homage to it and benefits the Eagles Autism Foundation. $38 here.

The third and final Philly Special Christmas record, featuring Jason Kelce with special guests like Stevie Nicks, has bumped Mariah Carey from her spot at the top of the holiday charts. Even better, it has raised piles of money for organizations like CHOP and the Children’s Crisis Treatment Center. Kelce recently announced on his New Heights podcast that a portion of proceeds will also go towards buying every single student in the School District of Philadelphia a holiday present. Who needs Santa when there’s Jason Claus? $75 here.

For art lovers:

Share the public art capital of the world with the gift of a guided tour of our city’s murals. Mural Arts Philadelphia offers a range of options, from walking tours in Center City to trolley tours in West Philly, and more. From $20 here.

This plush blanket is emblazoned with French pointillist painter Henri Edmund Cross’s Two Women by the Shore. It supports the Barnes — and your hygge goals. $69.95 here.

365 Days of Art from the Barnes will have you tapping into your inner artist every day of the year. $22.99 here.

For animal lovers:

Philly Goat Project’s calendar is hilarious, adorable and totally useful. $17 here.

Channel your loved one’s inner Swiftie with the PASCPA’s “In My Rescue Era” tee. $30 here.

A portion of sales from these collapsible travel pet food and water bowls from United By Blue goes towards removing trash from our oceans. $26 here.

Pups are patriotic too! Get yours a “We the dogs” bandana from The National Constitution Center. $9.99 here.

For food & drink lovers:

Add some new recipes to their repertoire while supporting pediatric cancer patients with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation’s Alex’s Table cookbook. $29.95 here.

This cheeky mug helps William Way Center provide a safe space and resources for Philly’s LGBTQIA+ community. $18.99 here.

These one-of-a-kind cutting boards from Honorable Oak support the Philadelphia Museum of Art. $140 here.

Wissahickon Brewing Company donates a portion of its “Philly United” beer to Legacy of Hope, which connects cancer patients to the care they need. $16 here.

Kalaya’s James Beard Award-winning chef Nok Suntaranon recently debuted a new cookbook — Kalaya’s Southern Thai Kitchen — so you can bring a little bit of spice right to your holiday dinner table. $35 here.

For nature lovers:

The Philadelphia Flower Show is heading into its 196th year, and to celebrate the holidays, they’re offering discounted tickets. Gift some to the flower lover in your life, and get some for yourself, too. From $25 here. Use code BOGOFF to buy one, get one 50 percent off; use code MEAND3 to get a fourth ticket free with the purchase of three.

Longwood Gardens sells a veritable cornucopia of gifts for gardeners — like this chic gear bag for all of your gardening tools. $46 here.

If you’ve ever hiked the Wiss, you know how hard Friends of the Wissahickon works to keep trails clean, safe and beautiful. Show your thanks by gifting a fellow urban hiker a 100th-anniversary sweatshirt. $35.99 here.

For anyone who needs a little zen:

These candles, in scents called Bright Matcha, Sweet Indulgence, and Frankincense & Myrrh, are made by folks who’ve experienced homelessness, and they benefit Project HOME. $40 here.

This pretty wishbone suncatcher that benefits the National Liberty Museum is a reminder to dream big every day. $36 here.

OX Coffee sells these beans to help Philabundance eradicate hunger. $19 here.

For the accessory lover:

These 3D gem earrings from the Barnes look good on everyone, and will give you something to talk about at that awkward holiday work party. $42.95 here.

This “medical tools” scarf from the Mütter Museum is perfect for the physician in your life. $37 here.

This necklace from Independence Seaport Museum calls to mind Philly’s seafaring past. $237 here.

For kids:

This adorable tee from The Philadelphia Zoo is perfect for the playground. $35 here.

This helmet from The Franklin Institute is a must-have for your future astronaut. $31 here.

This onesie from the Independence Seaport Museum is absolutely ahoy-able. $23 here.

Goodnight Philadelphia is the perfect bedtime board book for sweet little — local — dreams. $9.25 here.

For athletes and fans:

Outdoor athletes love these lightweight ball caps from Make the World Better Foundation, which helps build and restore our rec centers and community spaces. $25 here.

Runners and gym-goers can never have enough dry-wicking tees, like this one to support Students Run Philly Style. $20 here.

These limited edition headbands were designed by Liam Castellanos, beloved son of Phillies right fielder Nick — a portion of all proceeds support Kisses for Kyle to help families affected by cancer in the Delaware Valley. $15 here.

Jason Kelce’s Underdog Apparel line benefits evidenced-based programs that improve the lives of young people in our city — and it now includes golf gear, like this bundle pack with a classic tee, divot tool, ball mark and valuables pouch. $162 here.

The annual Gritty calendar benefits Flyers Charities, including community programs for kids. $25 here.

For the game lovers:

This cheery deck of cards from The Philadelphia Citizen offers 52 easy, fun, empowering tips for being a more engaged citizen. $5 plus shipping here.

This puzzle from Fresh Artists honors elders who’ve inspired the young artists who created it. $15 here.

“What’s Next” is a made-by-Philadelphians, all-ages game that will get your family moving, bonding — and (hurrah!) off of their screens. From $44.99 here.

For anyone who likes to keep it comfy:

This hoodie helps support the Center for Black Educator Development’s commitment to creating a diverse teacher pipeline. From $42 here.

These Philly sweats come from the Ertz Family Foundation, which focuses on uplifting young athletes and families in need. $68 here.

This “Topple False Histories” tee from Monument Lab is a reminder to all of us to learn from the past — and do better. $27.50 here.

These pajama pants from The Franklin Institute might just be too cute to reserve for sleeping. $45 here.

This super soft blanket from MANNA is perfect for snuggling on the couch, and it helps provide medically specialized food to those who need it. $50 now; on sale for $35 starting December 5th here.

For Philly history buffs:

Shop your local bookstore to read up on Benjamin Franklin’s scientific endeavors ($29 here), the history of Native Americans in the Delaware Valley ($29.95 here), Black History in Philadelphia ($18.95 here), and more.

Wear John Adams’ wisdom — “To be good and to do good is all we have to do” — on this chic tote from the Museum of the American Revolution. $65 here.

Toast to the holidays with these preamble pint glasses from the National Constitution Center. $12.99 here.

For holiday traditions of all kinds:

This stunning menorah supports Jewish culture through the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History. $225 here.

These metalwork ornaments support the Barnes. From $10 here.

This kinara is a beautiful way to observe Kwanzaa while supporting community based manufacturing through The African Cultural Art Forum. This hand-carved piece is $65 here.

For all of us who, deep down, love a good Philly stereotype:

This mini replica of the LOVE statue makes for the best bookend or freestanding piece of art. $32 here.

Citizen staffers have been known to gift these “Tasty Jawn” socks as their go-to holiday gifts. $16 here.

This Philly tarot deck may not reliably predict your future, but it will entertain holiday guests of all ages. And what better gift is there, really, than holiday cheer? $40 here.

Psst: Scoured our list and still haven’t found what you’re looking for? Consider a membership to The Philadelphia Citizen! From $35 here.

MORE HELP GEARING UP FOR THE HOLIDAYS FROM THE CITIZEN

 

Photo by Yevhen Buzuk on Unsplash

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