Alternative Gift Project: Global Holiday Bazaar

This year, in addition to a wonderful array of gifts to 16 nonprofit organizations, the Social Action Committee is hosting its first ever Global Holiday Bazaar at the Bainbridge Island Commons, 402 Brian Drive. The Bazaar will take place from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday, November 25th and 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Sunday, November 26th. In addition to gifts from the Alternative Gift Project, we’ll have fair-trade items from Bolivia, Togo, Nicaragua, Mongolia, Southeast Asia, and lots of spots in between.  

Folks who have been around for a while know that the Alternative Gift Project is our effort to channel some of the generous holiday giving in our congregation and the wider community to support nonprofit organizations that reflect our values.  In the past four years, we’ve raised over $50,000 for Helpline House, the Bainbridge-Omatepe Sister Islands Association, Clear Path International, and more than two dozen other organizations.  This year’s catalog will include gifts to:

• The ALIVE Shelter
• Bainbridge Island Rotary’s Ugandan Wells Project
• Bainbridge-Omatepe Sister Islands Association
• Bikes for Education/Global Alliance for Community Empowerment
• Clear Path International
• First UU Church, New Orleans
• Fishline
• Great Peninsula Conservancy
• Helpline House
• Holdeen India
• Literacy Council of Kitsap County
• Mercy Corps
• New England Women’s Initiative/CARE PATH
• Snow Leopard Conservancy

Because we had such success last year selling pulseras and a few other fair-traded items, we’re expanding our offerings this year as well. We will have a Global Holiday Bazaar at the Bainbridge Commons on the Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving (tell all your friends!) and sales at church on Sundays throughout December. Among the things we’ll be selling are:

• Rugs from Mongolia and Khazakstan
• Woven baskets from Bolivia
• Coffee from Omatepe, Bainbridge Island’s sister island in Nicaragua
• Textiles from southeast Asia
• UUSC holiday cards
• Jewelry, baskets, and other items from Ten Thousand Villages
• Tote bags from a UU church in Rhode Island
• Shea butter from Togo
• And lots more fair-trade holiday treasures!

We are excited to be expanding our program this year. We’ve grown and evolved over the years but our goal remains the same: holding on to the meaning of the holiday season with meaningful gifts that bring with them hope for a better future.

We Need Your Help

There are three ways you can help with the Alternative Gift Project and the Global Holiday Bazaar:

1. Volunteer your time.  You can help us make cards and address catalogs on Thursday, November 16, you can help us with the Global Holiday Bazaar on Saturday, November 25 or Sunday, November 26, or you can staff a sales table at church on a Sunday in December.
2. Tell us the name and address of friends and family who might be interested in receiving the Alternative Gift Project catalog.  Even better, take a couple copies and bring them to work or share them with your neighbors and friends.  Word of mouth is our best advertising!
3. Include us in your holiday giving plans.  Come to our Global Holiday Bazaar and look through the Alternative Gift Product catalog.  We think you’ll find something for everyone on your holiday gift list!  And you’ll know that your money has gone not just for a gift but to make a real difference in the world.

If you’re interested in volunteering to help or want some extra catalogs to distribute, contact with Carrie Klein.

This page contains information copied from the official page.

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