Although my preference is for charity giving as many have already mentioned, if you really want to make and give a useful gift I will put my "green" hat on and suggest making reuseable shopping tote bags and reuseable produce bags for the grocery store. I really try to avoid all plastic bags nowadays--both the carry out bags and the clear plastic produce bags to reduce trash. I made the produce bags with utility mesh fabric and colorful cord ties in various sizes and get complements on them every time I go to the grocery store.