WASHINGTON — As we come up on the height of the holiday buying season, some shoppers may want to take a step back from the malls, the online cart or the catalog. A fair is offering shoppers an alternative.
Started by three moms, the Gifts that Give Hope event teams up with local charities to give shoppers the option of buying a difference.
“This is a way to teach kids that the holidays are more than circling presents in the toy catalog,” says organizer Tara Bibb.
Shoppers attending the fair in Arlington, Virginia can talk to and choose from among 45 local charities of varying sizes and causes. And for their donation, they get a card detailing the difference they’ve made.
“For example, you can give $20 to the Animal Welfare League and provide food for a homeless animal for a week. Or you can give $50 to First Book and provide 20 books to local kids in need,” Bibb says.
Charities ranging from the Arlington Food Assistance Center to Bikes for the World will be offering gifts ranging from $5 to $120.
There’s also a kids’ fair, which Bibb says has 15 ways to donate $5. She suggests the fairs teach children about the impact their donation can make, and the cards they receive for their gift can be given to a teacher or caregiver as a gift from the child.
The fair is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13 at the Calvary United Methodist Church in Arlington, Virginia.
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