Feeling uninspired this holiday gift giving season? Consider giving something from the heart – with the help of these organizations and companies around the St. Louis area.

Make Sustainable Gifts

Turn trash into beloved treasures! Perennial, the community workshop and store located south of downtown St. Louis, offers educational programming in creative re-use. Discarded items such as belts, wood, reclaimed glass and fabric are transformed into re-usable pieces and works of art. Book a private event for you and your friends for a fun and sustainable night out.

Paint Your Own Pottery

Ditch store-bought cups and bowls and opt for unique pottery you can paint yourself! Glazed and Confused in South County offers a fun way to put your own spin on pottery. First, choose from a wide selection of house-made pottery and get to painting. Once your masterpiece is complete, the team will glaze and fire it for you. No appointments are necessary – walk-ins are welcome!

Create Home Décor with Planks and Boards

At Aerie Lane in St. Charles, visitors are inspired to gather with friends and put their creativity front and center with public workshops featuring home décor projects. (Aerie Lane also offers private events as well as their own DIY craft bar!) On Saturday, Dec. 22, create your own winter project with planks and boards. Team members will provide step-by-step instruction and inspiration!

Support the Gateway Arch

By giving the gift of membership to the park’s two nonprofit partners, Jefferson National Parks Association and Gateway Arch Park Foundation, to a loved one, you’re supporting Gateway Arch National Park and making it a place that will continue to be enjoyed for generations to come. Membership comes with perks: At JNPA, enjoy 15 percent off at The Arch Store and Old Courthouse gift shop (as well discounts at more than 400+ national park stores throughout the country!); at Gateway Arch Park Foundation, receive free Tram Ride to the Top tickets, complimentary parking, special event invitations and more.

Support Other Causes Around Town

There are so many charitable organizations in and around the St. Louis area that do so many great things. Make a donation to an organization in honor of a loved one based on their passions or interests. Is your sister an advocate for mental health? Provident helps tens of thousands of people each year to a brighter future through counseling, suicide prevention and advocacy. Is your best friend a lover of animals? The Humane Society of Missouri, APA Adoption Center or Stray Rescue help our furry friends find forever homes. Is your dad passionate about helping our local kids and teens? Our Little Haven, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Boys Hope Girls Hope need your support. Is your boss an environmentalist? Check out how Great Rivers Greenway and Forest ReLeaf of Missouri make St. Louis a better place to live.