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 Natural Awakenings Lancaster-Berks

Spread Hope and Health this Holiday Season with Gifts That Give Hope

Nov 02, 2015 12:43PM ● By Michelle Bense

Lancaster’s eighth annual, alternative gift fair, Gifts that Give Hope, which helps support local and global non-profit organizations, will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., December 12, at the Farm and Home Center. The holiday event gives shoppers the opportunity to purchase gifts that benefit local and global charitable organizations. A number of food and beverage options from local eateries will be offered.

The event also offers a marketplace of items that are either fair-trade or part of a social enterprise, which go toward alleviating poverty locally and around the globe. This expands the event’s previous offerings, and encourages people to think of pairing an alternative gift with a fair-trade gift this holiday season.

Benefiting from the event are 30 nonprofit organizations that represent local and global charitable causes, including, but not limited to, providing shelter for the homeless; new career choices for women transitioning from incarceration to the workforce; meals for school-aged children to eat throughout the weekend who might otherwise go hungry; music lessons for children; tools to educate children on how to prevent sexual abuse; gifts that help farmers worldwide by providing seeds, tools, animals to provide for their families; and more.

Some specific organizations that will benefit this year are Heifer International, Music for Everyone, Reach Out and Read, Nurse Family Partnership, Habitat for Humanity, Girls on the Run and more.

Local businesses taking part in the event include: Bead for Life, Light on A Hill, Our Beautiful Exchange, Imagine Goods, Revolution Lancaster, Singing Rooster Coffee, Liberty Blend Coffee to benefit Liberty in North Korea (LiNK), Canaan Fair Trade Olive Oil & Za’atar and Gobena Coffee (Go Make a Difference!).

Some of the event’s faithful food vendors include: Urban Olive, Rachel’s Creperie, Food For Thought Catering, Stroopies, Catering by Christina, Alerra Gourmet, Rafiki Deli and Café, Javateas Gourmet Coffee Café, Upohar Restaurant and Catering, HumanKind Water and My Brothers Breads.

Location: 1383 Arcadia Rd., Lancaster. For more information, call Jennifer Knepper at 717-201-9157, email [email protected] or visit GiftsThatGiveHope.org/Lancaster.

Michelle Bense is a freelance writer and editor for Natural Awakenings. Connect with her at [email protected].