Around the holidays, most of us are thinking about ways to give back to our communities and others in need.

This year, I was invited to participate in the PBS show, “The Holiday Table.” (See pbs.org for local listings.) One of the three segments I take part in is “Giving at the Table,” an all-pink, Cook for the Cure dinner party. The concept is to bring a group of friends together for the holidays and instead of exchanging gifts, each person makes a contribution to the charity, in this case, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

I love the idea of celebrating the season of giving with a higher purpose in mind. Bringing a charity or cause to the forefront of your holiday party is a thoughtful and festive way to open up a dialogue about important organizations with friends and family. And as with the pink party, the charity can serve as an unexpected and memorable inspiration for your theme and décor.

see some more gift giving ideas here

A jar of honey is the perfect representation for a donation of honeybees through Heifer.org, an organization specializing in community involvement to end poverty.