One of Charles Dickens’s lesser-known short novels is Doctor Marigold, the story of a street peddler beset by misfortune who saves the life of a young deaf girl. It’s a message of cruelty, redemption, social reforms, and compassion for those in need, elements that are entwined in much of Dickens’s writings.

At one point, his protagonist says: “No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another,” and a more fitting seasonal statement from the celebrated Victorian author would be difficult to find outside of one of his most famous works, A Christmas Carol.

In that spirit, below are tendered the names of a few health-oriented organizations that could benefit greatly from donations. Whether given in your name, those of friends or family members, or anonymously, such presents never run the risk of being unwanted or returned. (The societies and programs listed below are all local and registered charities that can offer tax receipts for donations.)

Vancouver Native Health Society

What started as an after-hours walk-in health clinic for Indigenous residents of the Downtown Eastside in 1991 has expanded into an organization that delivers a full range of medical and social services to the Aboriginal community of Metro Vancouver. In 2012, VNHS won top pick of Charity Intelligence Canada.

PALS Autism Society

This registered nonprofit runs a school program for children with autism in New Westminster and provides services for autistic adults in Vancouver (although residency in those cities is not required). Every individual registered requires up to $15,000 of fundraised support in order to keep the programs affordable to all families, and the society is also thankful for donations of school supplies and related educational materials.

The Kettle Society

Since 1976, the Kettle Society has been living up to its slogan, “Strength through mental health”. Originally conceived as a way to help those in need after the 1970 downsizing of Coquitlam's Riverview Hospital, it has offered resources and support from its current drop-in centre on Venables Street near Vancouver's Commercial Drive neighbourhood since 1996.

Volunteer Cancer Drivers Society

Offering cancer patients worry-free transport to appointments and treatment at hospitals and medical centres throughout the Lower Mainland has been the priority of the Surrey-based Volunteer Cancer Drivers Society since its inception in 2016. Since then, it has logged more than one-and-a-half-million kilometres and 50,000 patient trips by 200 volunteer drivers and dispatchers.

Kidsafe Project Society

For 26 years, the Vancouver-based KidSafe program has provided safe havens, meals, companionship, and educational programs for vulnerable inner-city children when schools are traditionally closed. More than a million meals and two-and-a-half million hours of support and programming have been offered since the society’s start at two schools closed for winter break.

HeadsUpGuys Program

This UBC–administered program tackles depression in men, one of the world’s leading causes of disability and a major risk factor for suicide, which is three times more prevalent in men than women. Its online resource provides “tips, tools, information about professional services, and stories of success” to about 2,000 people every day and has been visited more than one million times since its launch in 2015.