Shop out of the box this holiday season with a unique gift.

Instead of buying physical items, consider putting money toward a special interest or charity in a loved one’s name.

Mark and Kristen Leichty, of Ames, used their wedding as a way to give back to the community.

“We were both in our late 30s [when we got married] and already had established households, so we didn’t need more things,” Kristen said.

On the wedding invitations, guests were invited to donate to ministries of the couple’s choice.

Some people brought donations to the wedding to drop off, while others donated money in the couple’s name online.

“We were overwhelmed by people’s generosity. We were able to contribute more than $5,500,” Kristen said.

This year, instead of giving a common gift, pick someone’s favorite charity or choose one of these other unique gifts:

1) Many websites offer the opportunity to name a star. Name it after a loved one and wrap the certificate as a present.

2) Many websites and programs allow people to “sponsor” an exotic animal by making a donation. Choose your friend’s favorite animal and “adopt” it for them. The World Wildlife Fund offers more than 100 choices including tigers, pandas or polar bears. You can even purchase a gift adoption card and let them choose their own animal.

3) For the environmentally conscious, adopt a tree or two as a gift. Different websites accept small donations and in return, a tree is planted in someone’s name.

Unique presents such as the ones listed above provide gift-givers a chance to give back during the holiday season.