As posted in the Vernon Morning Star, December 5, 2014.
By Staff Writer, Vernon Morning Star
The fifth annual Alternative Gift Fair takes place Saturday.
The event, which is hosted by Junior Chamber International, is at the Arbour on 27th Street (next to Vernon Alliance Church) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The fair offers holiday shoppers an easy way to buy gifts of charitable donations and to support their favourite causes. Each participating organization offers a variety of meaningful gifts of help in price ranges that start as low as $10. Shoppers receive cards and inserts that identify their donations.
“We have a fantastic group of organizations participating this year,” said Sue Solymosi, JCI Vernon Alternative Gift Fair co-chairperson.
“It’s the perfect place to pick up meaningful gifts for family and friends. We even had a few businesses buying gift certificates to give out to staff and clients last year.”
In 2013, the fair raised more than $5,000 for local organizations.
“This time of year is the perfect time to give back to your community,” said co-chairperson Hailey Rilkoff, “These donations are great to add to your holiday shopping list.”
Participating organizations are the Community Dental Access Centre; Family Resource Centre; Good Food Box; JCI Vernon Helping Hands Project; Kindale Developmental Association; Road Home Rescue and Safekeeping Society; Sleeping Children Around the World; Special Olympics – Vernon; Teens Count Too; Vernon Women’s Transition Society; Upper Room Mission; Wellspring Foundation for Education; and the Zimbabwe Project.
For more information, e-mail jcialternativegiftfair@gmail.com or visit www.jcivernon.com.
