NOVEMBER 25 • 2021 | 17

4. GIFT FAIR-TRADE CHOC-
OLATE
Unlike traditional chocolate,
fair-trade chocolate is a choc-
olate made with cacao beans
that comes from farmers who
are guaranteed a fair price for
their crop.
With chocolate gelt being
one of the most endearing
Chanukah traditions, especially
for kids, consider gifting fair-
trade chocolate instead for a
sweet yet sustainable choice.

“We recommend
Chocolove, Dagoba,
Equal Exchange and
Sunspire,” Hack says.
You can also try mak-
ing your own gelt from
a number of online gelt
recipes, simply subbing in
fair trade chocolate.

5. CREATE DIY GIFTS
Rather than buying something
store-made or mass-pro-
duced, create your own DIY
Chanukah gifts for loved ones
that can prove to be just as
memorable and heartwarming.
Some ideas include taking a
photo and creating your own
frame, knitting a scarf or hat
or making your own beeswax
candles.

6. DONATE TO
A GOOD CAUSE
Rather than gifting Chanukah
gelt or presents, ask loved ones

if you can make a donation in
their name instead.
Local emergency food pro-
viders and hunger relief orga-
nizations are both excellent
choices during the holiday
season, when many families
struggle to put a hot meal on
the table.

7. PRACTICE “EIGHT DAYS
OF ACTION”
For the eight days of
Chanukah, consider using this
time to give back to the com-
munity (and planet).
“
A lot of local food pantries,
if they don’t need volunteers,
they certainly need food,” Hack
says.
Small but meaningful steps
can include volunteering for a
night as Hack suggests, cook-
ing a meal for someone in need
or setting aside family time to
watch a film about food justice.

8. REUSE GIFT SUPPLIES
Instead of opening a gift and
throwing away the bag or gift
wrap, consider reusing gift
supplies to help cut down on
holiday waste.
Beautiful gift bags in partic-
ular can be reused a number
of times, reducing your use of
paper and plastic.
For homemade Chanukah
gift bags and wraps that are
reusable, Hack suggests visiting
online retailer Etsy, which has
a number of creative options
for sale.

9. USE GREEN CHANUKAH
DECORATIONS
Just a few small changes in your
Chanukah decor can amount to
big gains for sustainability.
“Try crafting a dreidel out of
recyclable materials,” Hack says.
“
Also, as a family or community
activity, make your own meno-
rah using recycled materials.”

Use fair-trade
chocolate
for your
Chanukah
gelt.