Charitable Gift Market

WELCOME TO THE WEBPAGE FOR

ST. JOHN’S CHARITABLE GIFT MARKET!

 

A NEW NAME FOR OUR ANNUAL FUNDRAISER FOR LOCAL, REGIONAL, NATIONAL AND GLOBAL ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE SAVING THE WORLD THROUGH YOUR DONATIONS!  OUR 2023 MARKET WAS HELD IN THE ASSEMBLY HALL ON OCTOBER 15, 2023.

 

BELOW FIND THE CGM SHOPPING LIST FOR 2023!  YOU CAN FIND THE LIST IN THE OCTOBER ENLIGHTENER, OR PRINT FROM BELOW. NOTE:  WE ACCEPT CASH AND PERSONAL CHECKS, BUT WE CANNOT ACCEPT ANY CREDIT CARDS – THANK YOU!  FORMS CAN BE TURNED INTO THE OFFICE WITH CHECKS BY OCTOBER 30, 2023.

 

 

CLICK THE WORDING BELOW FOR A PRINTABLE PDF FILE OF THE 2023 CGM SHOPPING LIST:

2023 Charitable Gift Market Shopping List Open & Print

 

 

The 2023 Charitable Gift Market was held on Sunday, October 15 following the 10:15 am worship service in the Assembly Hall. 

 

Why the Name/Location Change?  Our CGM planning committee decided a ‘reboot’ with a new identity was called for after having 2 online events only on 2020 and 2021 and no event in 2022, all due to the remaining effects of COVID-19.  Also, some thought that the word ‘alternative’ did not accurately describe our gift market.  But the basic premise and purpose of the event is unchanged – to help raise money in one place for a number of the non-profit organizations we support as a religious community.

 

We also have a special Facebook page dedicated to the St. John’s Charitable Gift Market.  Here you will find a mission statement for each organization, and links to their Facebook pages and websites.  Anyone who has registered on Facebook and has a Facebook login can access this public page:  Click the link below: 

https://www.facebook.com/CGM.St.Johns.UCC

 

 

THE PARTICIPATING CGM ORGANIZATIONS:

(Listed in alphabetical order, subject to change)

 

Alex’s Lemonade https://www.alexslemonade.org/ Mission: to change the lives of children with vancer through funding impactful research, raising awareness, supporting families and empowering everyone to help cure childhood cancer.

 

Alpha Bravo Caninehttps//www.alphabravocanine.org/ Mission: to raise, train and donate trained service dogs to U.S military veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and other combat-related disabilities. 

 

American Red Cross https://www.redcross.org/  Mission: to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donoes. 

 

Angel Flight Easthttp://angelflighteast.org  Mission: To provide free air transportation to qualified patients and their families by arranging flights to distant medical facilities, delivering supplies to disaster areas and reuniting families during desperate times.

 

 

Bethany Children’s Homehttp://www.bethanyhome.org/ Mission: to provide a safe place of nurture, protection, and supportive care to aid our residents in their self-understanding, growth, and healing toward a brighter, healthier future.  (Womelsdorf, PA)

 

Bridge of Hopehttps://bridgeofhopeinc.org/ (Click Home below:)

Home

Mission: to engage Christian faith communities in ending family homelessness through neighboring relationships that demonstrate Christ’s love. (Malvern, Pa.)

 

Hedwig House –  https://www.hedwighouse.org/ Mission: To provide support and assistance to individuals with mental illness in pursuit of independence and personal fulfillment. (Lansdale, PA)

 

 

Kitty Cottage Adoption Centerhttp://www.kittycottage.org/  Mission:  to facilitate adoptions by housing the cats in a cage-free, home-like shelter where adopters and cats can interact and thus be matched up more effectively than if the cats were restricted to cages.  (East Norriton, Pa.)

 

Laurel House –  http://https://laurel-house.org/ Mission: To advocate for and empower those impacted by domestic violence by providing crisis intervention, safe haven, supportive programs and resources. (Montgomery County, Pa.)

 

Learning for Justicehttps://www.learningforjustice.org/ (formerly Teaching Tolerance). Mission:  to seek to uphold the mission of the Southern Poverty Law Center: to be a catalyst for racial justice in the South & beyond, working in partnership with communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements & advance the human rights of all people.

 

Logan’s Heroes –  http://http://lharinc.org/ Mission: to rescue homeless, neglected or abused animals and place them into life long homes while supporting veteran vocational rehabilitation training programs.  (East Greenville, PA)

 

 

Malala Fundhttps://malala.org/  Mission: to champion every girl’s right to 12 years of free, safe, quality education.  Together our board, leadership council, staff and champions are creating a more equal world by making sure all girls can go to school.

 

Marvin’s Homehttps://www.marvinshome.org/  Mission: to create homes for youth and young adults who have been homeless or aged out of the foster care system.  (Lansdale, PA)

 

North Penn Valley Boys and Girls Clubhttps://www.npvclub.org/ (click on ‘Great Futures Start Here’ below for their website:)

Great Futures Start Here

Mission:  to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potetntal as productive, caring, responsible citizens.  (Lansdale, Souderton and Ambler, PA)

 

 

St. John’s Good Samaritan FundOutreach Team | St Johns UCC (st-johns-ucc.org)  Pastor’s discretionary fund used to help people in financial need.  (Lansdale, PA – run by St. John’s UCC)

 

The Fred Rogers Company – http://www.fredrogers.org/ Mission: to build on the legacy of Fred “Mister Rogers” Rogers by creating quality children’s media that models an enthusiasm for learning and earns the trust of parents and caregivers.

 

The Seeing Eye  http://www.seeingeye.org/  Mission: to enhance the independence, dignity and self-confidence of people who are blind, through the use of specially trained Seeing Eye® dogs.  (Morristown, NJ)

 

Unite for HER https://uniteforher.org/  Mission: to enrich the health and well-being of those diagnosed with breast and ovarian cancers by funding and delivering integrative therapies.  (West Chester, PA)

 

UrbanPromise  www.urbanpromiseusa.org  Mission: to provide children and youth with the support needed to succeed academically, grow spiritually and develop into leaders who can bring positive change to their communities.  (Camden, NJ)

 

Wissahickon Trails  https://wissahickontrails.org/  Mission: to engage diverse communities of people to protect and enjoy the land and waterways of the Wissahickon Valley.  Our partnerships with neighbors, activists, and local governments are essential to our work. Together, we ise preservation and scientific innovation to strengthen our local ecosystems.  (Ambler, PA)

 

 

 

 HISTORY AND INFORMATION

 

History Our Charitable Gift Market, under the original name ‘Alternative Gift Market’, began in 2004 when St. John’s member Andrea Tanner brought the idea from her home UCC church in New Jersey. It was immediately embraced by the people of St. John’s and has grown into one of our most popular annual traditions to start the holiday season before Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas.  You may hear or see our name abbreviated as the “CGM” (previously known as the “AGM”). 

 

In 2020, we introduced a special Facebook page dedicated to the St. John’s gift market.  Here you will find a mission statement for each organization, and links to their Facebook pages and websites.  Anyone who has registered on Facebook and has a Facebook login can access this page:  Click the link below:

https://www.facebook.com/CGM.St.Johns.UCC

 

How Does It Work – The format is simple – a one-stop ‘shopping mall’ with popular ‘charity’ organizations. You receive a shopping list and a bag (or ‘go green’ and bring your own shopping bag!), and ‘shop’ from one booth to the next, pledging donations of varying amounts to buy gifts of a service of that group for each family member, friend, business associate, teacher, neighbor, etc. on your list who will appreciate a donation in their name to a favorite charity rather than more “stuff”! For each donation you receive a gift card and small token gift for the recipient.  

 

When you are finished shopping you fill out the shopping list, marking each donation, quantity and total cost, and take it to the cashiers. (You may also make a voluntary contribution to help defray costs for printing, mailing, etc.) Present this with cash or a personal check (sorry, NO credit cards as this is a one day only event) and you’re ready to go with your shopping done!

 

Thanks also for helping Alex’s Lemonade Stand fight childhood cancer for those who bought lemonade & made a donation during previous gift markets at our Alex’s Lemonade stand!  You may support them through their website: https://www.alexslemonade.org/  

 

 

A reminder we accept cash or checks only, no credit cards.  100% of the funds you donate go directly to the organizations you choose!  (You may make an extra donation to help defray our mailing & printing costs but that is voluntary.)

 

Some people are really surprised to learn St. John’s biggest fundraising event of the year raises NO money for St. John’s!  It’s true – the Charitable Gift Market each fall is a St. John’s MISSION PROJECT to raise funds for worthy organizations that provide needed services in our community, the region, the country, or the world!

 

Want to help?  The Charitable Gift Market Committee is happy to welcome new members! The committee meets regularly throughout the year to prepare for the one day event in the fall! Contact the church office or talk with one of our pastors or a member of the committee to get connected!  

 

 

For 16 years from 2004 through 2019 our ‘Alternative Gift Market’ took place in St. John’s Assembly Hall on Sundays afternoons in November.  Due to COVID-19, our 2020 and 2021 markets were virtual online events, with no in-person event in our Assembly Hall.  While you couldn’t visit with the organizations we support in person, you could access their websites here.  Despite not holding a live event, nearly $7,000 was collected for the organizations that we support in 2020!  We did not hold an event as we reorganizing following the COVID-19 online years.  We resumed our event in October of 2023 under the new “Charitable Gift Market” name.

 

Questions & Answers About The Charitable Gift Market

 

Question: What is the St. John’s UCC Charitable Gift Market?

 

Answer: An opportunity to purchase holiday gifts in honor of a loved one. These gifts are meaningful, non-material and support nonprofit organizations in our community and around the world. At the market, you shop for gifts as you would in a store … except these gifts go to local, national and international humanitarian projects. These gifts focus on those …in need, saving lives, and preserving our planet. Representatives from each organization (or church volunteers) staff tables you can browse for information regarding the mission and projects of each organization. This information can help you choose the right gift donation for each relative, friend, and loved one. 100% of every donation goes directly to the organization.

 

Question: What would I buy at the Charitable Gift Market?

 

Answer: In purchasing a gift, you are donating to a charity in honor of a loved one. For example: a gift of $20 might buy a vet clinic visit for a cat at the local Kitty Cottage Cat Adoption Center, or $5 may buy 1/3 flock of chicks for a Heifer Project International site.  Alternative gifts are great options for the “person who has everything”! In addition to your family, alternative gifts are appropriate for co-workers, neighbors, children’s teachers, or hostess gifts.

 

Question: How much do gifts cost?

 

Answer: Prices range from about $5 to $30 per gift

 

Question: What can I do to help you ensure a successful Charitable Gift Market?

 

Answer:  Attend the gift market and shop for all the important people in your life. Help us spread the word; the gift market is open to the public! Invite your extended family, friends, neighbors & all!