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Gifts that keep on giving

By Jennifer Milne | Special to amNewYork

December 17, 2007

Think Geek Ant Works Space (Handout)

Gift-giving doesn't have to be a one-time occurrence. Have a friend with a penchant for art or music? A significant other who is cause-minded? A relative who loves animals? Buy him or her a membership, class or charity item to let them relive the spirit of the holidays throughout the year. Here are some other ideas for gifts that keep on giving.

Snowmen on Broadway notecards
$25 for box of 12, www.broadwaycares.com
Performer Sutton Foster's Broadway notecards feature snowmen in scenes from "Wicked," "Les Miserables," "The Phantom of the Opera" and "The Drowsy Chaperone." A portion of the proceeds goes to Broadway Cares, which raises money for AIDS-related causes.

AntWorks space-age ant habitat
$29.99, www.thinkgeek.com
If you're yearning for an old-fashioned ant farm, look no further than this futuristic update. Your ants tunnel into a gel to create their colony, then you can turn on a red or blue LED to watch them glow.

Basic immunizations for a child
$41, www.worldvision.org
A $41 donation ensures that a child whose family cannot afford immunizations gets protection against preventable diseases.

ABC Home & Planet Foundation silver Darfur charm necklace
Gift with $50 donation, ABC Carpet & Home, 888 Broadway, 212-473-3000
Two years ago, three New Jersey high-school students started "Help Darfur Now," an organization that has raised nearly $400,000 for the war-torn Darfur region of Africa. You can support their cause by purchasing a silver Charm for Change necklace. All proceeds go to Darfur relief efforts.

Natal plum bonsai tree
$54, www.redenvelope.com
Want a fruit tree that will fit in a New York apartment -- and actually survive? This resilient Natal plum bonsai produces fragrant snow-white flowers that transform into round, crimson fruit rich in vitamin C and calcium that's tasty made into homemade jam.

Museum of Modern Art membership
$75 per person for one year, Museum of Modern Art, 11 W. 53rd St., 212-708-9696
A MoMA membership will get your modern-art-loving pal free admission to the museum for a year, four days of exclusive previews for all major exhibitions before they open to the public, five $5 guest passes, free film screenings and more.

ZipCar membership