Alternative Gift-Giving Opportunities

Do you sometimes feel that you are spending too much for Christmas gifts that friends and family don’t really need?

Consider making Christmas a more Christ-centered holiday and take the opportunity to give gifts to help others who are poor, hungry, and who might not otherwise receive gifts. You can give gifts in honor of a loved one’s name. Or you can make a decision as a family to give to others and limit the spending on gifts for the family. Most offer a card to give to the recipient. There are many other opportunities, but here are a few.

ELCA Good Gifts
Choose a gift from the ELCA Good Gifts catalog. Ten dollars donated to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal might provide a family with one or two mosquito bed nets to help prevent malaria, $30 to $50 could provide a family with farm or garden tools or a pig or a goat through the God’s Global Barnyard program. Gifts can also be given to the ELCA Disaster Appeal. Visit www.elca.org/giving or call 1-800-638-3522.

Heifer International
Gifts to Heifer provide livestock to families in developing countries for long-term livelihood and sustenance. Call 1-800-422-0755 or visit www.heifer.org/gift

Global Health Ministries
Global Health Ministries, based in Fridley, works through the Companion Synod program of the ELCA as well as through other church-related health assistance efforts. Your gift can go towards clean water and wells, medical training programs, programs to support people with HIV/AIDS, maternal and child health, bednets. Call 763-586-9590 or visit www.ghm.org

MissionFuture4KIDZ
Through this investment you can start putting aside funds for your child’s or your grandchild’s education. The investment will pay interest until he or she is grown, making it an excellent way to save for college. Call 877-886-3522 or visit www.elca.org/mif

Mashiah Foundation
This ministry in Jos, Nigeria, offers hope and support to people infected or affected by HIV/AIDS, especially women and children. Mashiah Foundation also offers a message of prevention and vocational training to youth. Visit mashiahfoundation.org or marybetho.blogspot.com
Order quilts and other sewing items made by the Women of Hope through Sandi Wallestad at womenofhopecreations.blogspot.com

Fair Trade Products
Your purchase of Fair Trade products benefits farmers, handicraft workers, children and communities in developing countries. In addition to the Equal Exchange coffee, tea, cocoa and baking chocolate, always available at First Lutheran, we have added Divine Chocolate bars and snacks. You can purchase a gift basket including several products. Fair Trade Handicraft products can be ordered through Serve International. Catalog is available in the Community Room. Call 1-888-294-9660 or visit www.lwr.org/handcraft

Ten Thousand Villages Store, Grand Ave., St. Paul
Luther Seminary in St. Paul is sponsoring a Global Fair Trade Fair on December 1-3 at the Olson Campus Center from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Another source for Fair Trade items, including organic olive oil from Sindyanna of Galilee, is St. Martin’s Table at 2001 Riverside Ave.

Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches
Through the GMCC, you can give a gift towards Minnesota FoodShare, Discover Parent Groups, or HandyWorks. Call 612-721-8687 or visit www.GMCC.ORG.

Local Outreach Efforts
These outreach efforts are ways to help those in our local community. NEAR Foodshelf accepts food and monetary donations. Donations help provide our monthly meal at Sharing and Caring Hands (servants needed too) or pack food for malnourished children at Feed My Starving Children.

Giving Plus Program
Sponsored by Thrivent Financial will end December 31. If you are a Thrivent member and wish to make a donation to a Lutheran organization and get it matched on a one for two basis, pick up a form or print one out from the internet or call Thrivent to get one. Lutheran schools and seminaries, Camp Wapo, LWR all qualify for matching funds.

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