As the holiday season approaches, even from a distance, we are bombarded with pictures and displays of brightly wrapped gifts under the tree. You become desperate to find the perfect present for each of your chosen recipients, but what happens when that special someone says that he doesn't want a gift? Or that he already seems to have everything he could want? That's when you are stymied, determined to find something but unsure of where to start. After all, you want to give something that will wow him.

Giving something more than a useless trinket, or something that just isn't compatible with a friend's lifestyle, can be a difficult feat and a burden on your pocketbook. But give a gift that has special meaning, and she will be flattered and honored -- a win-win for all. Giving to charity in someone else's name is a beautiful way to both honor your recipient and help so many others.

There are many worthwhile holiday-themed charities to donate to such as: Toys for Tots, Operation Christmas Child, Make-A-Wish-Foundation, My Two Front Teeth, the Family Giving Tree, Angel Tree, Salvation Army's "Fill the Truck" and Christmas Spirit Foundation. These charities benefit children, families and overseas service members. Other popular charities sponsor research for medical conditions, hospital treatment for children, food pantries, animal rescues and human rights organizations. These are all meaningful ways to honor someone.

To make your donation even more meaningful, make it to one of his or her favorite charities. Find something your giftee is passionate about, and donate to that cause. Does she volunteer with an organization or help gather needed supplies for areas impacted by severe weather? Does he foster or adopt rescue pets? Does she spend time fundraising for a local women's rights group?

Still in a quandary? Think of a personal memory you share and how it might relate to a charitable organization. Or choose a charity that might have personally benefitted him or someone he cares about. There are a few websites, such as TisBest, that will let the giftee choose where the donation goes. You simply present them with a gift card, and they choose their favorite charity. See a charity gift card comparison chart at https://www.charitygiftcards.com/.

If it doesn't have to be a surprise, you can ask what her favorite charity is and then make the donation, either online or through the mail, specifying that the money is on behalf of "so-and-so" Whether or not your gift is a surprise, instead of a gaily wrapped package under the tree, get a card in which you can write a personal note telling the recipient about the donation (the specific amount need not be included). Include the name of the charity and your reasons for choosing it.

You could also volunteer alongside your friend, serving food at a homeless shelter or organizing a book drive for a local nursing home or Veterans Affairs Hospital. How about running alongside her in a charity 5K? Or present him with a homemade card and a "coupon" for a certain number of hours to be put toward volunteering together.

It's a double win: You'll be doing a good deed for a meaningful, and you'll be spending quality time together.

This is also a great gift for the kids in your life. Children learn by example, and it's important to teach them the value of giving. Put a gift card or cash in their stocking with a note instructing them to donate it to a charity of their choice. Then present them with a "certificate" for their good deed.

Holiday shopping can be tricky, and it's hard to know what presents will be used and appreciated. Rather than gifting your relatives another scented candle (destined to collect dust for years to come), consider a charitable donation. It's a gift you both can feel good about and a chance to spend a little extra time with your loved ones this holiday season. As Dr. Seuss famously wrote: "It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags ... (Christmas) doesn't come from a store ... Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more."