We recently had some friends who were moving at Christmas time. She is a Hospice volunteer. Rather than give them more stuff, I gave her two prayer/comfort shawls for her to pass along to Hospice "in their honor".
I make lots of stuff for friends and family, 'cause I usually have an idea of something they could use. This year, however, I really didn't have any ideas for DD's birthday, so she just got cash which I know she can spend.