By Rachella Sinclair

AT THIS MOMENT, shoppers are being whipped into an orgy of conspicuous consumption. Can the right gift revive the economy and make your loved ones love you more? Perhaps not, but it is possible to celebrate the holidays with gifts that carry on the sentiments of peace and goodwill often lost in the feeding frenzy of shopping at the mall. The following San Francisco charities and nonprofit organizations offer the opportunity to impress everyone on your list while doing something special for someone you don't even know. Now that's goodwill to all.

Be a patron of the arts

Mexican jewelry, pottery, custom votive candles, Day of the Dead knickknacks, books, Latinobilia and alterna-chic tote bags are a few of the gift items that can be found at Studio 24 (2857 24th St., S.F. 415-826-8009, www.galeriadelaraza.org), the shop that supports Galería de la Raza, a showcase for traditional and contemporary Latin and Latin American art. Items start at $3, and the selection is eclectic, from sugar skulls and Oaxacan wood carvings to wrestling masks, fine-art prints, and Latin-themed works created by local artists. Something can be found for almost everybody on your list. Don't miss the popular annual Helguera calendar.

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art shop (151 Third St., S.F. 415-357-4035, www.sfmoma.org) melds fine art with retail, and you can feel enriched without even setting foot in the museum. Slick picture books for adults and children, games and toys with a contemporary-art slant, jewelry, SFMOMA wear, classic and ultramodern furniture, and an impressive selection of holiday cards will please those who appreciate high design. A museum membership makes a fine gift.

The California Palace of the Legion of Honor store (34th Ave. and Clement, S.F. 415-863-3330, www.thinker.org) offers a nice range of decorative and collectible gifts at prices to fit any budget. Prints and cards, depicting works from the museum's massive collection of ancient and European art, are sold alongside books, dishes, and souvenirs with the Legion of Honor's logo. As with the SFMOMA, all proceeds benefit the museum.

Folk and outsider art collectors may enjoy an original work from Creativity Explored (3245 16th St., S.F. 415-863-2108, www.creativityexplored.org). The art, created by artists with developmental disabilities, is displayed and sold at the showroom's gallery, and proceeds help support its classes and programs. T-shirts, books, and note cards featuring the artists' work are also available.

Support education and literacy

The Exploratorium store(3601 Lyon, S.F. 415-561-0399, www.exploratorium.edu) supports its science programs by selling a range of educational toys, doodads, and kits that will appeal to all the kids on your list, big and small. For the stuffed-animal collector, how about a fuzzy microbe, a cuddly version of the bacteria associated with athlete's foot, the common cold, bad breath, bread dough, and other microscopic life? Scientific young minds may enjoy a traditional chemistry set, while budding gourmets may be more interested in the soda pop science kits. There's also books for all ages and the must-have item, the Exploratorium T-shirt with a light-sensitive logo.

For the book lovers on your list, Friends of the San Francisco Public Library operates two Book Bay bookstores. Proceeds help fund Friends of the Library literacy programs, including the Summer Reading and the High School and Beyond programs. Book Bay at the Main Library (100 Larkin, S.F. 415-557-4238), located at the Grove Street entrance, sells donated books, T-shirts, prints, greeting cards made from recycled books, and Songs Inspired by Literature CDs, produced by Artists for Literacy and featuring songs by artists David Bowie and Tom Waits, along with winners from AFL's annual songwriting competition; the CDs can also be ordered online at www.artistsforliteracy.org. With its array of magazines, music, and videos, including some collectible first editions, Book Bay at Fort Mason (Bldg. C, Marina at Laguna, S.F. 415-771-1076) can be a good place to find gifts for that hard-to-shop-for book collector on your list. Stock changes frequently, so the store is a bit hit-and-miss, though the intrepid can discover some real treasures.

Foster urban nature

PHOTO BY LORI SPEARS

Help find a cure

Under One Roof (549 Castro, S.F. 415-503-2300, www.underoneroof.org) raises money for more than 50 AIDS-related organizations by selling luxury toiletries and candles, upscale gift items, and quirky accessories for the home. Shoppers can also find gourmet candies, toys, books, and an excellent collection of Christmas tree ornaments, including Christopher Radko designs, handcrafted creations, and a range of decorations.

Animal love

To help support the San Francisco Zoo, shop at its store (1 Zoo Rd., S.F. 415-753-7080, www.sfzoo.org), which stocks animal-themed toys, clothing, educational games, a nice selection of ethnic jewelry, and books for adults and children. The zoo offers an adopt-an-animal package as well as memberships.

Likely there are one or two vegetarians on your list, and they may appreciate an adopt-a-farm animal package provided by Farm Sanctuary (available at www.farmsanctuary.org), a California and New York organization that provides shelter and lifelong care for farm animals rescued from inhumane situations. Adopters can choose an animal to sponsor, and packages include an adoption certificate, a photograph, a Farm Sanctuary calendar and – for larger animals like goats, sheep, pigs, and cows – a VIP tour of the farm to meet the adoptee.

Another way to help the needy this holiday season is to give generously to the Bay Guardian Community Fund. Your contributions help underserved local charities that mitigate homelessness, foster AIDS support, and uphold freedom-of-information and environmental policies, among other Bay Guardian missions. Make your tax-deductible contributions to San Francisco Bay Guardian Community Fund, San Francisco Foundation, 225 Bush St., Ste. 500, S.F., 94104-4224.

Cards for good causes If you don't have time to make your own holiday greeting cards, kick Hallmark to the curb and buy ones with a heartfelt greeting and a purpose. Cards from the following organizations will help you send the right message for the season. The Arc of San Francisco sells holiday cards designed by Arc's program participants. Proceeds go to serve, support, and advocate for individuals with developmental disabilities. www.thearcsanfrancisco.org. Drawbridge, an arts program for homeless children, has a wide selection of greeting cards created by program participants, including a special 10-card holiday assortment, perfect for sending or for gifting. www.drawbridge.org. UNICEF cards support the United Nations International Children's Fund programs, which include basic health services such as nutrition, immunization, education, HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, and child protection. In San Francisco, UNICEF cards can be purchased at PlanetWeavers (1573 Haight, 415-864-5526; 518A Castro, 415-575-0240, S.F. www.planetweavers.com). R.S.