12 Days of Good Giving

Each day from now until Christmas Eve, Life & Style will highlight a gift that can make a difference in the world. Giving one of these presents can help feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, rescue wildlife or restore the planet. Giving these gifts can make many people happy, including yourself

Today’s Gift Idea: A bejewelled angel brooch ($20) crafted from old Mardi Gras gowns and recycled copper wire by a disabled artist. The collection also includes an elegant lobster, smooth stone necklaces, paintings, ceramics and sculpture--all created by artists with disabilities.

The Payoff: Sales benefit the artists and their nonprofit Very Special Arts (VSA) gallery. VSA is part of the Washington, D.C.-based group founded in 1974 by Jean Kennedy Smith. More than 1 1/2 million people participate in VSA projects every year.

Its Mission: “To promote arts education and creative expression involving children and adults with disabilities, thereby strengthening the human spirit and improving the quality of life for all.”

Place Your Order: Very Special Arts California Gallery, MainPlace/Santa Ana, 2800 N. Main St., Suite 2050, Santa Ana, (714) 835-8867; and Very Special Arts Gallery West, 184 N. Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, (310) 385-0499.