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The Alternative Christmas Fair
Believing that Christmas has become too commercialized, we wanted to help the Quad Cities Community ³to put Christ back into Christmas.² It worked this way: rather than adding to the commercialism of Christmas by shopping and purchasing material goods to give as presents, we suggested that Quad Citians ³shop² at our Christmas Fair by making donations to local charities. These donations, given in honor of or in the name of friends or relatives, became the Christmas gift for the people on the personıs gift list. In this way, the message of Christıs love for the less fortunate was remembered and included on the occasion of the Holiday.
Sixteen local charities were present in our church hall. Every one had information about the mission of their organization and who would benefit from donations. They all had gift cards available for donors to delight their friends. What a nice way to give and to receive a gift and to honor the spirit of compassion and charity at this holy time.
These charities were represented at the Alternative Christmas Fair on November 20, 2004:
- Association of American University Women
- Churches United
- The Centro Mayan Mission Project
- The Council on Arts Resources
- DelaCerda House
- Project NOW
- Quad Citians Affirming Diversity
- Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood
- In-Touch Adult Day Care (Lutheran Social Services)
- Quad Cities Animal Welfare Shelter
- Rickıs House of Hope, AIDS Project Quad Cities
- Arrowhead Ranch
- Diapers for Jesus (Church of Peace)
- The Child Abuse Council of Rock Island County
- Habitat for Humanity, and
- The Rock Island Rescue Mission
We will have an Alternative Christmas Fair in our church in November 2005.
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