Presbyterian group sponsors market to benefit poor, planet

One project involves new homes in Haiti.
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. -- The Westminster College Young Presbyterian Scholars are sponsoring an Alternative Gift Market from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday in the Carlson Atrium located in the McKelvey Campus Center.
"Shoppers can browse through display booths to find a gift to fit any budget from $1 to as much as you would like to spend," said Carey Anne Meyer-LaSor, coordinator of the Young Presbyterian Scholars Program.
"Many of us are past where we actually 'need' gifts, but many people in the world are not. We wanted to supply a way to share what we have, but still recognize and honor our friends and relatives," Meyer-LaSor said.
Alternative Gifts International gives people a way to help the poor and the planet, while honoring a friend or family member, she added.
How it works
The Alternative Gift Market concept is simple. Colorful displays are set up by the students to represent various alternative gift projects. Projects are chosen by "shopping card," and then a shopper may choose from AGM gift cards to give to their recipient, along with a project information sheet included for their purchase.
This year, students will be hosting projects such as "New Life for Child Soldiers [Colombia]," "Endangered Girls [Southeast Asia]," "Rescue a Reef [Jamaica]," and "One Hundred New Homes [Haiti]."
Alternative gifts catalogs will be available so that shoppers can view the remaining projects. The fair also will include items from the New Wilmington Presbyterian SERRV/a Greater Gift Shop, which represents crafts from 33 Third-World countries, and a refreshment table selling fair trade coffee from the Presbyterian Coffee Project.
The Westminster chapel staff will have information tables on their "One Hundred New Homes" project, which is being sponsored by the Westminster Habitat for Humanity.
"We are one of only 14 schools and colleges in the United States to sponsor one of these special sales," Meyer-LaSor said. "We hope to surpass last year's total of over $2,600 in worldwide gifts."
XContact Meyer-LaSor at (724) 946-7365 or e-mail her at meyerca@westminster.edu for more information.