Gifts that Give Hope Lancaster is hosting its tenth annual gift fair event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., December 9, at the Lancaster Farm and Home Center. The fair features nonprofit organizations, fair-trade, local food vendors and social enterprise gifts. With a mission to promote charitable, alternative giving through an annual gift fair that offers Lancaster-area residents an opportunity to give “giftable donations” in honor of their loved ones, friends and associates, Gifts that Give Hope inspires and encourages support for local and global nonprofit organizations that are helping to transform the world.

New to the fair this year, attendees can meet favorite local authors and purchase their books. Visiting authors include Melanie G. Snyder, executive director of the Lancaster County Re-entry Management Organization and author of Grace Goes to Prison: An Inspiring story of Hope and Humanity; Annette Darity Garber, children’s author of Quite the Same, with all proceeds going to the International Justice Mission to fight the horrendous crime of human trafficking; and Ulysse Toussaint, author of the children’s book Superheroes of Service.

Children’s activities accompany the meet-and-greet with the children’s authors, and there will also be a human rights scavenger hunt for the kids to complete for a chance to win a free book pertaining to human rights.

“We feel that people are looking for opportunities to give back and to take the consumerism out of the holidays,” explains Jenn Knepper, event organizer. “This allows people to get back to the meaning of the season, which is to give, show love and build community and altruism.”

Buying gift donations (or alternative gifts) from 30 nonprofits provides life-changing benefits for people in the community and the world, such as a life-sustaining gift in the form of food, shelter, education, medicine, social justice and more for those in need. Gifts That Give Hope changes lives and brings lasting impact.

To celebrate the tenth year, a campaign called the 10 Acts of Hope is going on now to encourage altruism all around, by spreading kindness, hope and love.

Location: 1383 Arcadia Rd., Lancaster. For more information, visit GiftsThatGiveHope.org/Lancaster. For 10 Acts of Hope ideas and instructions, visit GiftsThatGiveHope.org/Lancaster/10acts.