Alternative Gifts Fair - Mount Olivet United Methodist Church of Arlington VA

Learn more about the artisans and organizations who are at the Fair:

Art for Humanity – Helps impoverished families in Honduras help themselves. Celebrate their artistry skills as you support their micro-businesses with purchases of woven bags, carved wood items and paintings.

Central Asia Institute - Provides community-based education and literacy programs for girls in remote mountain regions of Central Asia. Mount Olivet’s Karen McElfish will sell her own hand-knitted items and hand-crafted stationary to support this grassroots organization.

Church World Service – A cooperative ministry of Protestant, Orthodox, and Anglican denominations providing sustainable self-help and development, disaster relief, and refugee assistance in some 80 countries. Make your donation in honor of a loved one and receive a gift card describing the life-changing work of CWS.

Doorways for Women and Children - An Arlington shelter for abused and homeless women and children. The proceeds from your home-made lunch and snacks will go to Doorways.

GRACE Ministries - Though the immigrants served by GRACE Ministries in Arlington may be so poor that they don't have a table to eat on, their plates will not be empty. Your Christmas gift will help provide several days of food and nourishment to a family in need.

Heifer International - Develops livestock and agricultual programs that alleviate hunger and poverty for millions worlwide. Your meaningful gift in the name of a loved one will help children and families in impoverished areas around the globe receive training and animals that help them become self-reliant.

Highland Support Project – Serves indigenous communities of Guatemala by providing food, medical care and other basic supplies to help rebuild in the aftermath of Hurricane Stan. The artisans of this region will offer jewelry, scarves, purses and pottery for sale.

Mount Olivet Environmental Awareness Committee - Mount Olivet strives to be one of the churches in the Virginia Conference’s Green Church Initiative by exploring ways to improve our impact on the environment as a church, as individuals, and as a community.

Mount Olivet Library - Donate a book to the Mount Olivet Library in honor of a loved one. Inscribe a book plate with your personal message.

Nothing But Nets - Save a child through simple malaria prevention, one of the leading causes of death in Africa. Every $10 doantion bys a mosquito net which not only protects the children from infecting bites, but contains insecticide that kills the mosquitos.

Red Bird Mission Craft Program – This craft store, part of Red Bird Mission, is dedicated to creating economic development and promoting individual cottage industries for local Appalachian craftspeople in Southeastern Kentucky. These hand-crafted items, primarily in wood, make great gifts and include kitchen items, toys, ornaments, Nativity scenes, baskets and much more.

The S.P.I.R.A.L. Foundation - This foundation finances humanitarian aid projects in Nepal and Vietnam with proceeds generated by income producing handicraft workshops. Artisans will sell baskets, woven mats, and scarves.

Students Helping Honduras – Furnishes food, water, shelter and educational opportunities to orphaned and impoverished children in Honduras. A student-organized club from the University of Mary Washington is raising money for shoes and school supplies for the children at the Copprome Orphanage. Shop from a selection of beautiful Christmas cards hand-made by the children.

Williamsburg Diplomats – Students from Williamsburg Middle School in Arlington are raising money for the Arlington Pediatric Center and UNICEF.