Alternative Christmas Gift Ideas

This past Sunday during our morning announcements just before worship, Jeanne Thompson shared an invitation with the congregation on behalf of the Monday Night Bible Study. That invitation was to find a way to "take some of the consumerism out of Christmas this year and make it more of a sacrifice and time to think about others."

In that regard the Monday Night Bible Study has put together the following list of Alternative Christmas Gifts and Ideas. Each link below gives you the opportunity to support great causes that make a real difference in our local community or throughout the world. 

Alternative Christmas Gifts and Ideas:

UNICEF: http://www.unicefusa.org/shop/ donate or shop- you can even buy your Christmas cards through UNICEF, made with a comitment to sustainable forest management

Feed My Starving Children: http://www.fmscmarketplace.org/ donate or shop at their market place. For $10 feed a child 45 meals and print a card to give to your loved one (under “gifts that grow”)

The Greater Good Network: http://www.greatergood.com/  network with links to several sites, each selling gifts which support various causes

The Hunger Site: http://www.thehungersite.com/ part of the Greater Good Network, find Fair Trade gifts that support food relief efforts

The Nature Conservancy:  http://blog.nature.org/green-gift-holidays/?s_intc=sp4 this site offers a variety of DIY gift ideas, “green” holiday suggestions, etc.

Heifer International: http://www.heifer.org/  “buy” chickens, bees and even water pumps which provide food sources for families in need. You can print a card along with your donation that explains your gift

Arizona Humane Society: http://www.azhumane.org/ buy a tribute brick or see their “donate” tab for more donation/gift ideas

Desert Botanical Garden: http://www.dbg.org/events-exhibitions give tickets to an event, buy plants at the gift shop, or make a donation in someone’s name

The Phoenix Zoo: http://www.phoenixzoo.org/events/zoolights/ give tickets to Zoolights!

Amor Ministries: http://www.amor.org/altgift fund projects for Amor

Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/  local, handmade gifts that support small businesses (high quality and tons of variety)

Sustainable Arizona: http://www.sustainablearizona.com/  donate or check out their ecotourism page (under information links) for lots of ideas if you are planning to travel or hosting out of town guests