Mashable.com’s Social Good section highlights holiday giving options that give back. One Million Lights is #8 on the list!

Charitable giving has changed a lot in the past few years and the social web has been a big factor in that change. Where we once put coins in a collection box, there are now a plethora of ways you can help make a difference online.

One area of real growth is transaction-based giving, such as the “one for one” model, in which a consumer buys a product and someone less fortunate receives the same product for free. It’s been pioneered successfully by companies like TOMS Shoes and the OLPC organization, and has inspired many similar projects.

We’ve highlighted 10 great online “buy one give one” projects, but there are plenty more out there. Let us know about any we might have missed in the comments below and the next time you need a new pair of shoes, a flashlight or even a pair of glasses, why not consider buying one and giving one to someone less fortunate than yourself.

#8 One Million Lights

The One Million Lights project distributes solar LED lights to replace kerosene lamps in areas around the world where there is no electricity. The lights help children study, help adults generate more income, and improve health and the environment.

You can simply donate a light, but there’s also a buy one donate one option where you can purchase one of the durable lights for yourself and one will be given to a child or family in need.

The project is geographically far-reaching and has distributed lights in Haiti, Peru, Nicaragua, India, Ethiopia, and Kenya, among other countries. Read about the other 9 ways to give back at Mashable.com.