Looking for the perfect unique gift for someone who has everything?
Want to give a gift that will be life changing? Alternative Gift Fairs allow you to give a gift that is life-saving in many ways, never goes out of style, can be any price you want and will have an impact far beyond the holiday season. This year the Alternative Gift Fair will be a virtual, meaning although we cannot gather in person, we still encourage you to visit the website listed below and find the perfect gift! Honor the special people in your life with gifts that inspire, have an impact beyond the holiday season, give hope and improve the lives of others who may not be on anyone’s gift list.
Aaron’s Gift From Home
Kevin and Debit Barley Ullom’s son Arron was killed in Afghanistan in 2011. They decided to honor Aaron’s memory by sending care packages to US military personnel located throughout the world. They send packages four times a year. They have a store at the Midland Mall which is open on Wednesdays, 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm. You can purchase T-shirts, hoodies, baseball caps, playing cards, coffee mugs. You can also send donations to 3603 Sweet Briar Terrace, Midland, Mi 48642.
ACT-Agape Community Transformation
Blessed Sacrament has developed a partnership with the poor, rural area of Muko in southwest Uganda. A few of the Muko women, who have been afflicted with HIV/AIDS, have fabricated beautiful hand-crafted Ugandan baskets and beaded jewelry , placemats, table runners, and handbags made from African fabrics. Purchases will help to support these poor women and is a key source of income for the needs of the general community. You may order items made by these women at https://www.actuganda.org/ . Contact Beth Martin (989) 698-6581 for more information.
Cancer Services of Midland
This organization provides urgent needs support to people dealing with cancer. They provide transportation and connect cancer patients with other resources in the community, help with long distance lodging and prevention programs in the schools and community. Make a contribution in honor of someone to allow this organization to continue to help those dealing with cancer. Donations can be made at https://cancerservicesmidland.org/ or mailing donations to Cancer Services, 400 Ashman St., Suite 200, Midland, MI 48640.
Children’s Grief Center
This organization provides a safe and healing environment for children, teens and their families as they grieve the death of a parent, sibling, close family member or friend. They create an atmosphere that fosters healing through peer support and trained volunteers. The participants use art, dance, theatre, storytelling and writing to express their feelings and share their experiences with each other. On the website you will find a wish list that will allow you to purchase specific needed items. You can also do a nonspecific donation at http://childrensgriefglbr.org/ or send donations to Children’s Grief Center, 4708 James Savage Rd, Midland, MI 48642.
Chippewa Nature Center
Chippewa Nature Center’s (CNC) mission is to connect all people with nature through educational, recreational and cultural experiences. CNC is one of the largest private non-profit nature centers in the United States. Established in 1966, CNC offers a Visitor Center with free admission and 19 miles of trails and 1,500 acres to explore. You may make a purchase at CNC’s Nature Center Store, or make a donation or purchase a membership in honor of the nature lover in your life, at www.chippewanaturecenter.org or by mail to Chippewa Nature Center, 400 S Badour Rd, Midland, MI 48640.
Civitan Club
The Midland Civitan Club is dedicated to helping people in their own communities with an emphasis on people with disabilities and their families. You can order Claxton Fruitcake to help support their causes by emailing bradsj7@gmail.com or calling 989.859.2699 and leaving a message. They will deliver within the Midland area.
Diaper Alliance
The Diaper Alliance provides free diapers to a collaboration of partner nonprofit and government agencies who work with individuals and families in crisis. They are able to help struggling families who may otherwise have to use newspaper and grocery bags to diaper their children. The Alliance also provides incontinence supplies to financially vulnerable senior citizens. You can donate at www.thediaperalliance.org or send contributions to Diaper Alliance, 3700 James Savage Rd, Midland, Mi 48642.
For a Brighter Tomorrow
This organization was founded in memory of Ashley Wood who lost her battle with addiction at a young age. The mission of this organization is to help individuals overcome obstacles that interfere with the successful recovery from the disease of addiction. They provide support for needs not met by other avenues. Some of their services are covering lapses in insurance coverage of counseling session, covering costs of court ordered drug testing which is needed and family support groups. You can donate at https://www.forabrightertomorrow.org/ or send donations to For A Brighter Tomorrow, 1509 Washington St., Suite E, Midland, MI 48640.
Global Compassion
Global Compassion is a nonprofit public charity is run by volunteers to help the people in need. The top outreach priority is to drill borewells for clean drinking water to people in remote villages in India. The other projects are supporting education, empowering women to self-sufficiency, and community outreach to help those in emergency needs. The second COVID surge in India had been devastating and lots of daily wage workers are struggling for food. So, COVID relief food distribution has been a top priority since 2020-21. Please help us with your generous participation in the purchase of Indira’s Homemade Exotic Jams, pure silk scarves, soup packages, jewelry, or simply donate at Website- globalcompassioninc.org or send it at 3910 Concord St, Midland, MI 48642.
Global Mamas
Global Mamas is a nonprofit organization helping small women-led enterprises in Africa. By purchasing Global Mamas products, you are offering sustainable livelihoods to women and their families living in poverty. All proceeds go directly to the women and to nonprofit programs that assist them with business development. You may order items from Global Mamas at http://www.globalmamas.org. For locally available items contact Richard & Tami Adam, radam1@zoho.com
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian ministry founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a decent, safe and affordable place to live. In the U.S., Habitat for Humanity lends no-profit, no-interest mortgage loans to its beneficiary families. Each recipient family is expected to invest “sweat equity” in building their home. Donate online at https://midlandhabitat.org/ or send checks to Habitat For Humanity, 1703 S Saginaw, Midland Mi 48640.
Heifer International
Heifer International is a non-profit organization whose goal is to help end world hunger and poverty through self-reliance & sustainability. Heifer projects around the world help families achieve self-reliance through the gift of livestock and training. Over the last year, Heifer was able to assist more than 1.9 million families directly and indirectly. Gifts are passed from recipient to recipient until entire communities are transformed. Heifer was listed by the Harris Interactive Brand survey as one of the top 10 most trusted non-profits in America. Make a donation to purchase an animal for a family in need at www.heifer.org. or by calling 800-422-0755.
Home To Stay Housing Alliance
This agency, previously known as Midland Area Homes, has been serving Midland County for 40 years improving housing conditions for safe and independent living. They are a resource for rental assistance and furniture pick-up and distribution. You may make a donation at http://www.myhometostay.org/ or sending to Home To Stay, 205 South Saginaw Rd, Midland, MI 48640.
Kay Lasante, House of Health
Kay Lasante, “House of Health,” is a health care project in Port au Prince, Haiti. Kay Lasante was founded by the St. Claire Parish community in Haiti and the House of Grace Catholic Worker, Philadelphia Pa. together with Bishop Tom Gumbleton, Detroit. Haiti is the most impoverished country in the Western Hemisphere. Money is needed to complete the construction on the clinic building and for start-up costs for purchasing supplies, equipment, medicines, and salaries for Haitian employees. You may make a contribution to this organization at https://www.kaylasantehaiti.org/ or send checks to Bishop Tom Gumbleton, 1616 Bagley Street, Detroit, MI 48216. Please write Kay Lasante Clinic in the memo line
Ladies of Blessed Sacrament
This group provides opportunities for women of the parish to be involved in a variety of social and service activities. The funds they raise go to support projects within the parish, Saginaw Diocese and beyond. These projects include Blessed Sacrament funeral luncheons, adopt a family and purchase of materials to make blankets to donate. If you are interested in donating to this group, please send checks to Blessed Sacrament and make it out to the Ladies of Blessed Sacrament. For information on this group, contact Eileen Foster, 631-9597
Midland County Emergency Food Pantry Network
The goal of this organization is to ensure every family has enough food. In addition to their regular food program, they provide vouchers for nutritional supplements to cancer patients, sponsor mobile pantries that feed around 250 families and the Backpack Buddies Program which provides a backpack of food each weekend to low income children. Make a donation to this agency to honor a family member, neighbor or friend. Donations may be sent to P.O. Box 2521, Midland, MI 48641 or via www.midlandcountyefpn.org
Midland Kids First
A Midland County based impact agency focused on programs for at-risk Midland County youth. One program is the Midland Mentors program which seeks to provide positive role models for youth in the day treatment program at the Midland County juvenile care center thereby reducing the likelihood that these youth will engage in high-risk behaviors. You may make a donation at https://midlandkidsfirst.org/ or send donations to Midland Kids First, 2715 Ashman St. Midland, MI 48640
Midland’s Open Door
The Open Door is a non-denominational Christian outreach that strives to carry on the mission of Jesus Christ. They minister to the spiritual and physical needs of the hungry, homeless and poor. The ministries include: a men’s crisis shelter, a crisis shelter for women and children, a soup kitchen, jail and prison outreach, clothing ministry, Restoration ministry, bible study, prayer and Christian fellowship. Midland’s Open Door has experienced an increased need for shelter this fall and they anticipate that the need will continue to grow through the winter months. You can help by sending your gift to Midland’s Open Door in support of their shelter programs. More than 250 men, women and children will need safe shelter this year and your gift can be part of their warm welcome. You can donate at https://www.midlandopendoor.org/ or mail donations to Midland Open Door, P.O.Box 1614, Midland, MI 48641
Midland Quilt Makers
A group of quilt makers in Midland have been sending their quilts for many years locally, nationally and globally to those in need. Money collected will allow them to buy more fabric and batting to continue to make quilts for those in need. If you are interested in contributing to this group, send donations to Midland Quiltmakers, 1508 Sayre, Midland, Mi 48640. For more information on this group, contact Judy Harris 631-2026.
Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP)
Nonviolent Peaceforce of Midland supports the vision of International NP’s “Worldwide culture of peace in which conflicts within and between communities and countries are managed through nonviolent means.” Our local chapter raises donations for international peace and also has helped train Midland area students and adults in conflict resolution skills. On 9/21, we headed a Day of Peace celebration and recently received the City Council support for that effort. Many community leaders are also supporting our effort to have Midland become an International City of Peace. Donations could be given to International NP’s work OR to our local NP chapter efforts. Large or small will be greatly appreciated wherever you choose to support. Please write checks either to Nonviolent Peaceforce USA or to Nonviolent Peaceforce Midland Chapter and send to Jeanne Lound Schaller, leader of NP Midland Chapter, 1718 Patterson Rd. Midland 48640.
Nothing-But-Nets
Malaria infects more than 500 million people a year and kills more than a million. Malaria is both a preventable and treatable disease. Despite the magnitude of the problem, there is a simple and cost-effective solution to prevent malaria deaths-bed nets. Bed nets work by creating a protective barrier against mosquitoes at night, when the vast majority of transmissions occur. A family of four can sleep under an insecticide-treated bed net, safe from malaria, for up to four years. The benefits of bed nets extend even further than the family. When enough nets are used, the insecticide used to deter mosquitoes makes entire communities safer—including even those individuals who do not have nets. $10 is all that is needed to purchase one net. Go to http://www.nothingbutnets.net/ to donate.
Red Dirt Road
Red Dirt Road was co-founded by the Harpswell Foundation and former parishioner Marie Eckstein. The Harpswell Foundation works to Empower a New Generation of Women Leaders in Cambodia. Red Dirt Road helps women in a remote village in Cambodia design, produce and market beautiful handmade fashion accessories, enabling them to build their own business to support their families in this impoverished country. All profits are returned to the women. You may order items at http://www.red-dirt-road.org.
Royal Family Kid’s Club
Royal Family Kid’s Clubs offers a way to mentor foster children at a critical developmental stage (ages 6-12) and build healthy new patterns that can change their lives. They offer an intensive, year-round program through multi-denominational neighborhood churches – with no fees charged to foster families. They also provide free 5-day residential summer camps with one counselor for every 2 children building a week of positive memories. They are the nation’s leading network of camps for abused, neglected and abandoned children. You may donate at: https://midland.royalfamilykids.org/our-camp/
Salvation Army Adopt A Family
Make Christmas more joyful this year by adopting a family through The Salvation Army. The Adopt-A-Family program, is designed to provide Christmas gifts and food to needy families. In Midland County many families will sign up to be adopted but few will be adopted. Contact Midland Salvation Army, 496-2787, to learn about this program.
Serrv International
SERRV is a nonprofit organization with a mission to eradicate poverty wherever it resides by providing opportunity and support to artisans and farmers worldwide. SERRV works with thousands of small-scale artisans and farmers in Africa, Asia, Latin America and other developing regions of the world by marketing their handcrafts. In addition to purchasing and marketing products, Serrv works with producers to assist them in becoming economically self sufficient through product design, training, information, technical assistance and market access. You will be able to purchase a wide variety of hand crafted products that will benefit the artisans supported by Serrv. at www.serrv.org
The Arc
The Arc of Midland is a nonprofit organization which promotes the general welfare of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and increases their presence, participation and inclusion in the community. You can donate at https://www.thearcofmidland.org/ or send donations to The Arc, 2602 Louanna St., Midland, MI, 48642