November 10th, 2009
Alternative Christmas market gives gift givers choices

The Alternative Christmas Gift Market features an array of charitable gifts.

STAFF REPORT

On Sunday, First Lutheran Church at 130 West Holland, will be the site for a “market” of gifts meant to embody the spirit of the season. The Alternative Christmas Gift Market will give shoppers a chance to give tax deductible gifts for  those in need while dedicating the gifts to friends or relatives.

This non-denominational market is sponsored by a collection of churches that includes First Baptist Church. First Presbyterian Church, First Christian Church, United Methodist Church and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, in addition to First Lutheran.

Shoppers at the Alternative Gift Market will see an array of informative displays for a variety of choices that run the gamut from food to water to medicine to education for those in need. Shoppers will choose their donations, along with cards that can be personalized to inform their friends or relatives that a donation was made in their honor. All proceeds will go directly to the specified agencies.

The organizations participating are both local and international. The local agencies include CASA, Family For Life, Habitat for Humanity, Hands of Hope, Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center, Meals on Wheels and the Salvation Army of San Marcos.

The international organizations included are Distributing Emergency Food Support (Iraq), Learning to Read & Sew ( India and Mexico), Rescuing Girls (India and Southeast Asia), Gardening and Critter Care (Bolivia), Restoring Sight (Cambodia and Tibet), Caring for Abandoned Elders (China), Ending Child Abuse (Haiti) and Teaching Youth to Care (Global).