Shopping for greatest gift today

By Julia Levitan

Over the past seven years, the Alternative Gift Market at First Presbyterian Church in Napa has been an important fundraiser for many area nonprofits. All of us who work for the Alternative Gift Market are very grateful to everyone who shopped at the market in past years and invite one and all to visit the seventh annual Alternative Gift Market, which takes place today.

The market, held in the gymnasium of First Presbyterian Church on the corner of Third and Franklin streets in Napa, is open from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.

The market is organized by the church’s Mission Committee for the benefit of many local, national and international nonprofits. The purpose of the Alternative Gift Market is to provide the opportunity for people to buy life-sustaining gifts that help others and to bring the essence of the holidays back to the act of gift-giving.

Shoppers will be able to “buy” fertilizers, seedlings, yaks, pigs and other agricultural items to help people in other countries, as well as the U.S. They can also buy school supplies, Bibles, re-hydration supplies for infants, clean water, medical care and other items to help families. There are more than 100 gifts from which to choose. Shoppers will walk out with special gift cards from the nonprofit to send to their loved ones explaining the gift that has been purchased on their behalf.

Gift and craft items will also be available. These are supplied by the nonprofits which help people in other lands to sell their handiwork here, with no middle man, and thereby enable them to earn a better living for themselves and their families.

These items come from Guatemala, India, Peru, Ghana, the U.S. and many other countries. Handmade scarves, baskets, boxes, jewelry, coffee, food and toys are among the wide array of items for sale at the Alternative Gift Market. The craftsmanship is excellent and the prices are very low by American standards.

Who are these nonprofits? ALDEA Children’s Art Therapy, Habitat for Humanity, Heifer International, Church World Service and Friendship Bridge, to name a few.

Last year, more than $16,000 was raised in this one-day market for 11 nonprofit organizations. Other good news: the Alternative Gift Market passes on 100 percent of every dollar raised to the participating organizations. Talk about efficient giving!

The Alternative Gift Market reflects the great generosity of the Napa community. It is a win for both the shoppers and the people helped by the nonprofits. Make a list, check it twice. Come to the market today and feel good about your holiday shopping.

(Levitan is the coordinator of the Alternative Gift Market.)

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