Don't you want to tell somebody you bought them a llama('s butt)?

Most people I know personally already have everything they need. And nobody needs another trinket.
So my Christmas shopping is going to get done in one place:
[link]

The Cakewrecks blog has posted a list of other charities you can donate to: [link]
Last year, the Cakewreck readers not only donated to all the charities of last year, but donated enough, with one dollar each, to build an entire well (and then some)... In one day. So, yeah, that should restore your faith in humanity.

If you prefer to help somebody closer to home, there are lots of local organizations, which you should be able to find through a simple internet search or, if you can't find any, stop by a local church or soup kitchen because the people there generally know about other organizations in the area. The Bloggess put together a (fairly short) list on her blog, if you're interested in this kind of thing: [link]

Of course, if you see something somebody you knows would like and use, of course you should give it to them. And some people (poor college students, for example) can definitely make use of things like food and clothes. But there are so many people in the world who need so much more. Why buy something for your friend who probably won't use it and just keep it sentimentally when you can buy a share of a llama/cow/goat/camel/etc. (or the whole animal) which will dramatically improve somebody's life?