Fair Brightens Holidays for Less Fortunate

By Melissa Arseniuk

Monday, December 3, 2007

The organizers of a local gift fair believe the best gift for the person who has everything is something for someone who has next to nothing.

And unlike a new sweater or the latest gadget, organizers say alternative gifts can make Loudoun County a better place, too.

The fourth annual alternative gift fair kicked off in the Founders Building in downtown Leesburg this past weekend. The month-long campaign is organized by Saint Gabriel's Episcopal Church and will continue by phone and online until Dec. 31.

All of the money raised by the alternative gift fair stays in Loudoun. Since its inception in 2004, the event has raised more than $47,000 for various local charities.

Alternative gifting is quite simple: Shoppers browse the selections of 13 local charities and select either a pre-set gift or make a holiday donation for a friend or family member. Pre-set gifts are offered in $10, $25 and $50 denominations, while monetary gifts of any other amount can also be given.

Details of alternative gifts are provided on small certificates printed on cardstock. After an alternative gift is selected, the gift-giver tucks the details of the present and the organization it benefits into a holiday card for the recipient, and that's that -- the alternative gift is ready for giving.

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Alternative Gift Fair

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A holiday shopper finalizes his alternative gift purchase at the fourth annual alternative gift fair in Leesberg on Dec. 1. (Melissa Arseniuk)

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Santa and Mrs. Claus, along with their two volunteer elves, welcome visitors to the fourth annual alternative gift fair in Leesburg. (Melissa Arseniuk)

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Santa, Mrs. Claus and two helpful elves greet passers-by and passing traffic outside the Founders building in downtown Leesburg as the annual alternative gift fair gets underway inside. (Melissa Arseniuk)

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One of the alternative gifts offered by the Loudoun Volunteer Caregivers at the alternative gift fair in Leesburg. (Melissa Arseniuk)

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Information, brochures and holiday treats were part of Loudoun Families For Children's display at the annual alternative gift fair. (Melissa Arseniuk)

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Two of LINK Inc.'s alternative gifts that are available this holiday season: the gift of food and formula, and the gift of food. (Melissa Arseniuk)

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Holiday shoppers browse the selection of alternative gifts at the fourth annual alternative gift fair in Leesburg. (Melissa Arseniuk)

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Loudoun Community Free Clinic is one of the 13 charities included in the 2007 alternative gift fair. (Melissa Arseniuk)

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Holiday shoppers check out the alternative gift selection at the Friends of Homeless Animals booth at the 2007 alternative gift fair in Leesberg. (Melissa Arseniuk)

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Friends of Homeless Animals is offering holiday shoppers alternative gifts for animal lovers. (Melissa Arseniuk)

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All alternative gifts included a holiday card featuring original artwork by local artist Elaine Nunnally. (Melissa Arseniuk)

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Leesburg resident Christine Andary, 57, and her husband, John Andary, came across the gift fair by chance.

"We had gone down to the (Leesburg holiday) parade and weren't even aware of the gift fair beforehand," Christine Andary said Saturday.

The couple was pleased with the discovery. "We're really big on trying to do business locally and to try to do donations locally … so we thought it was great," she said. "Even though Leesburg is growing so much, to me I think there's still a real community feeling in Leesburg."

Christine Andary said she was glad to see so many young families at the event. "I think that children have to learn from an early age that Christmas isn't just about getting toys," she said.

Another proponent of alternative gifting, Sarah Newland, of Ashburn, agrees.

"With all of the commercial stuff that goes on with the malls and TV and everything, I wanted my kids to think about giving to somebody else," the mother of four explained. She and her husband took their children alternative holiday shopping Saturday afternoon.

"I had them each go through and pick a charity that means something to them … I was trying to involve them in the choice so it would have some more meaning to it."

Newland said her children have benefited from what has become a Newland family holiday tradition.

"I think they've learned to be more generous and less judgmental of people they see," she said of her children, who are between the ages of 8 and 15.

"It is important to step back and realize how fortunate we really are," Newland said. "I think a lot of the time we think the people that need help are in Africa or somewhere else, but a lot of the time they're here in our community."

Lisa Kloz knows how alternative gifts help local people because she is one of them herself. Thanks to several Loudoun-based support agencies, the 43 year old said she is getting her life back on track.

"For the first time in my life I feel supported," she said. "That whole feeling of personal helplessness is gone … It's huge, it makes me feel empowered."

Kloz volunteered at the gift fair's Friends of Loudoun County Mental Health booth over the weekend. The agency is one of many that helped her leave the "dark, dark, dark, scary place" she previously found herself in.

Nick Leischen was on the hunt for a good cigar shop on Saturday when he passed the Founders Building and decided to go inside. After speaking to Kloz and other volunteers, he instead spent the $25 he expected to spend on the cigar on an alternative gift.

"It's a lot more valuable than cigars," he said of his gift. Leischen's $25 gift from Friends of Loudoun County Mental Health will help pay for one of the agency's client's electricity, water and food this winter.

"It's Christmas, and there's a lot of people that aren't as fortunate as I am in my life," he said.

Though West Palm Beach is home for Leischen, he said he is happy to support the less fortunate in Loudoun.

"It doesn't matter to me -- people in need could be anywhere," he said.

The weekend's fair generated more than $14,000 in alternative gift sales, and organizers hope their drive will raise a record $30,000 for the 13 benefiting local charities by the end of the month.

The alternative presents come in many forms, including shelter for someone with mental health challenges, essential items for a child in emergency care, grocery pick-up and delivery service for seniors, or a trip to the vet for a homeless dog. For more information, call 703-779-3616 or log on to www.saintgabriels.net/AGF-2007/index.htm.

Tagged: christmas

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