Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009
12:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Greenville Unitarian
Universalist Fellowship
1135 State Park Road
Greenville, SC
[864] 271-4883
WHAT IS AN ALTERNATIVE GIFT FAIR?
It's an opportunity to give your friends and family gifts that will make the world a better place, rather than objects that will only accumulate in their closets.
At the Alternative Gift Fair, you have the opportunity to donate money to worthy causes in the name of people you care about, and we'll have a smorgasbord of organizations to choose from! This way, you can bypass the annual stress of holiday shopping and “stuff” accumulation while honoring friends and relatives with donations to causes that fit their values.
We will also have on hand some "tangible" gifts, such as shade-grown coffee and handmade toys, that support small farmers and artisans.
What’s more, Alternative Gift Fairs provide critical support for a diverse collection of local, national and international organizations with established track records of helping people and the environment.
WHY AN ALTERNATIVE GIFT FAIR?
Because most people are not satisfied with the holiday gift exchange. Each year, millions of Americans face holiday shopping with fear and anxiety.
A recent poll said that 84% of Americans would prefer a less materialistic holiday. Another reported that 85% of Americans said they like spending time with friends and family a lot, while only 17% placed the same priority on getting lots of presents.
The good news is, we can still express our love through gift-giving, but we can make it more meaningful and less stressful with the Alternative Gift Fair.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
1. Come! Attend the fair and use it to get your alternative gifts!
2. Spread the word! Get your friends, family, coworkers, and fellow congregants to attend the fair, too!
3. Volunteer:Call Nancy Fitzer at 370-3493.
WHAT IF I CAN'T COME TO THE FAIR BUT I WANT TO BUY ALTERNATIVE GIFTS?
We'll miss you, but go ahead and print out the shopping list, fill it out, and mail it by Dec. 4, 2009 with your check to:
GUUF
1135 State Park Road
Greenville, SC 29609
We will mail you your cards if requested.
WHAT ABOUT MY FRIENDS WHO LIVE OUT OF TOWN BUT WOULD LOVE A FAIR LIKE THIS?
Encourage them to seek out a fair in their area. If not, the Center for the New American Dream has an online toolkit your friends can use to organize their own fair as well as other information about Simplifying the Holidays.
Based on a model by the Center for the New American Dream. For more information, visit newdream.org