Alternative Christmas Fair



		Where Everybody is Somebody and Jesus is Lord!

			39200 West 12 Mile Road Farmington Hills, MI 48331 (248)553-7170

Alternative Christmas Fair
Meaningful Giftsfor a Meaning

Each year, Hope sponsors an Alternative Christmas Fair on the second Saturday of November. Hope's Service Ministry Team has designed this event as a way of providing a place where local, national and international charities and non-profit groups can provide information about their organization and raise funds by offering items for sale and accepting donations.

Since the first Alternative Christmas Fair in 2001, the annual event has grown to include 45 different participating groups and more and more shoppers are attending. The variey of items offered for sale has also grown each year. Some of the items offered are holiday cards, jewelry, hand woven items from Guatemala, hand knit items, soup and cookie mixes, children's books, Fair Trade coffee, tea and chocolate, lap quilts, Christmas ornaments & decorations, unique household items from around the world, t-shirts, women's gift items and stocking stuffers. Some of the participating organizations include Maya Works, Project Compassion, Ronald McDonald House, C.O.T.S., Gleaners Food Bank, Sweet Dreamzzz, Detroit Resuce Mission Ministries, Gilda's Club of Metro Detroit, Heifer International, Orphan Medical Network Int'l. and Haven. Each organization hopes to "sell" their "merchandise" and create community awareness of their mission. There is also a children's craft table, cookies and lunch items for sale.

Looking for a meaningful yet non-traditional gift that is sure to please? How about …

Heifer Project International , which directly combats poverty by giving livestock to families throughout the world. Give the gift of geese, sheep or a heifer to those on your list who already have it all.

Make-A-Wish Foundation of MI: Help make dreams come true when you Send A Wish to everyone on your list! This unique gift includes a special greeting card, inscribed with information about the child whose wish will be sponsored through your contribution.

Seedlings Braille Books for Children: Dedicate a braille book in honor or memory of a special person, or buy a children's book that includes the braille script..

Delicious homemade cookies, lunch and snack items are available for purchase during the hours of Fair. Also, enjoy a variety of musical performances.


	*Click here* *for some great pictures from last year's Alternative Christmas Fair!*

Hope members put their faith into action on Saturday, November 12, 2005. The results of our Fifth Alternative Christmas Fair were:

o over $27,000 raised
o almost 150 Hope volunteers
o 45 organizations participated
o over 600 shoppers
o this event is not a fund raiser for Hope - the charities involved keep 100% of their earnings and donations

Hope held its first Alternative Christmas Fair in November of 2001 with 21 organizations participating, 70 volunteers and approximately 250 shoppers. Over $7000 was raised that first year.
In November of 2002, the fair had 23 organizations participating, 105 volunteers, 350 shoppers and over $12,000 raised.
In 2003 we raised over $22,000, with over 35 organizations participating, 525 shoppers and 135 volunteers.
In 2004, 45 organizations participated and $25,000 was raised and 150 volunteers were involved.
The success of this event is due in great part to the volunteers who work so hard and to Hope's members who participate by shopping and spreading the word about the fair. The lives of many people are touched by what you have done.