For the birds

Birds aren't the only beneficiaries of these cheery birdseed wreaths. Residents of ProAct, a Hudson, Wis.-based home for adults with special needs, are watching their handcrafted creations fly out of gifts shops, including Twin Cities Bibelot shops, Moss Envy in Minneapolis and Lake Country Booksellers in White Bear Lake.

Resident are "thrilled to be involved in a successful enterprise that brings holiday joy to others," said Sarah Bruch, co-owner of Hudson's the Purple Tree gift shop, which was the first to carry the wreaths. Created with the nonprofit birdseed products company Birdworks, they're priced from $12 to $20. Proceeds will fund activities for ProAct residents.

Pictures of Hope holiday cards

Celebrity photographer Linda Solomon shifted her focus to homeless children seven years ago, giving them cameras and sending them off to capture a too-often elusive concept: hope. Their wishes — for a home, friends, a dog, to be the first female president — appear on holiday cards benefiting 14 shelters across the country.

In Minneapolis, Solomon — who has photographed Robert Redford, Morgan Freeman and Halle Berry, among other stars — teamed up with Village Chevrolet and Walgreens to put high-end digital cameras in the hands of children living at the Harriet Tubman Center shelter. The Pictures of Hope project, she said, "shows that their dreams matter." Sets of 15 card are $15, plus $3 shipping. All proceeds benefit Tubman. To order, call 612-825-3333 or e-mail give@tubman.org

Beautiful music

We all know that music soothes the soul. Turns out, tunes also can reduce anxiety for people facing memory loss. Walker Methodist, a multifaceted senior living community in Minneapolis, seeks new iPod shuffles to be used by residents in its Music and Memory program. "The shuffles are used because of their simplicity," said spokeswoman Ann Tabat. Therapeutic recreation staff work with families to personalize the play list, she said, "so that residents reconnect with happy memories." The musical program has been proven to reduce anxiety, without the use of sedatives, she noted. "It works because it takes people to a happy part of their brain." You can drop off your iPod shuffle at the front desk, 3737 Bryant Av. S, Mpls. If your loved one is living in another memory care unit, ask the supervisor if this gift might be welcome there, as well.

A birdseed wreath can be enjoyed by birds and humans alike.

Gail Rosenblum • 612-673-7350

Twitter: @grosenblum