The wine totes I found came with potholders, place mats, and cloth napkins that all matched. How cute! So I also stuffed the pot holders with gifts and tied them to the totes.

I also went the traditional route of just filling up a basket! This one holds my favorite Green Mountain Coffee, maple candy, locally made jellies and some Vermont mugs!

 Of course, the wine totes came in handy for my wine loving friends! I filled this basket with all of the above, plus Amy’s Granola, Ben & Jerry’s lip balm, Switchback Ale and a local bottle of wine (I found several different brands of local wine, so I won’t list them).

Here is what I am giving the boys’ teachers…

Chalk Talk mugs from Green Mountain Coffee, Lake Champlain Chocolates, a sample hot cocoa and a gift card to Starbucks. I know, total non-local gift card. I ran out of time!

Oh! And I can’t forget, one of my favorites! Cabot Cheese! I just forgot the cheeses in the fridge when taking pictures of my baskets. 🙂

So those are my ideas for the gift of local products. Of course, these are all things Vermont is known for, look around and find some local products for your friends and family! Everyone will love it!

*None of this is sponsored! Just sharing my favorites!

The holidays are almost here, making it the time of year where we give thanks. One group in particular, Donate Life Vermont, is giving thanks to registered organ and tissue donors in Vermont with an exclusive Black Friday deal. It’s just their way of saying “Thanks for making the decision to give the gift of life!” Donate Life Vermont is calling this: Thanks4Giving!

This year, the Ben & Jerry’s scoop shop on Church Street in downtown Burlington has partnered with Donate Life Vermont to bring a special deal available only to registered organ and tissue donors in Vermont on Black Friday:

Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop – Buy one Small Scoop, get one FREE! (Click this link.)

But Thanks4Giving isn’t just about rewarding currently registered organ donors in Vermont; it is also about inspiring new ones during the giving season. Right now, the need for registered organ donors in Vermont has never been greater.

Every day, 18 patients on the transplant waiting list pass away due to lack of available organs for transplant. Everyone who chooses to donate life gives those on the waiting list hope to keep fighting on. Right now, over 116,000 people across the nation are waiting for a potentially lifesaving transplant, with just under 200 of those representing people from Vermont who are in need. This number keeps increasing because the supply of organ donors does not meet the demand. The people waiting for these transplants are made of up mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends. Your decision to donate can take less than 5 minutes, and just 1 donor can save up to 8 lives.

If you want to make the decision to give the gift of hope and claim this deal on Black Friday and spread hope this holiday season, you can register online at www.donatelifevt.org. Your gift will help you receive a gift in another form, that why it’s Thanks4Giving!