Have you ever wondered if the gifts you give will soon be collecting dust in a closet, or worse yet-be returned for cash, or on the shelves of a pawn shop, or rack at the local thrift shop? Gifts given are meant to be appreciated! The solution to those fears is an alternative gift. By shopping with Grand Valley Peace & Justice on Sunday, November 22, or by mail through December 15th, your gift-buying will be enjoyable and informative.

The Alternative Christmas Fair offers a wide variety of gifts that are tax-deductible and support global humanitarian and environmental causes.

The Fair is a concept of Alternative Gifts International, which is a nonprofit organization that inspires support for such causes by offering donors the option to donate charitable gifts through carefully selected non-profit agencies in the name of their relatives, friends and associates. The concept began in the early 1980's and has grown throughout the U.S. by hundreds of churches, inter-faith groups and schools hosting Alternative Markets.

The Alternative Christmas Fair in Grand Junction will be held at the St. Joseph Parish Hall, 3rd & White Ave. from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Shoppers can also mail in orders through December 15th. For more information contact: Karen Sjoberg at 970-243-0136 or gvpeace@acsol.net

At the Fair on November 22, projects will be on display, so you can browse the tables and learn about the work being done locally and around the world to promote justice, peace and good will. Dozens of volunteers put together creative displays with costumes, maps, food items and even animals! Crafts are also available for sale, with monies going to help support artisans from developing countries. In addition, fair trade coffee will be sold. The Fair is festive, fascinating and full of hope for the world.

This year, there will be forty National and International Projects and fifteen Local Projects from which to choose. (See below for links to Project Shopping Lists.) Shopping lists will also be handed out on the day of the Fair. The Alternative Fair is not to be missed, but if you cannot make it, simply print out the lists below, fill out the projects to which you want to donate, indicate the number of cards you would like in return, and send a check for the total donations to GVPJ, 230 N. 3rd St., Grand Junction, CO 81501. Make sure to include your return address. We will fill out your customized cards and mail them back to you or you can arrange to pick them up. Let us know if you would like a receipt.

Get the Local Shopping List

Get the National and International Shopping List