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!
The 2023 Charitable Gift Market will be held on Sunday, October 15 following the 10:15 am worship service. Weather permitting, the event will be held outdoors for the first time along S. Richardson Ave. to attract passersby and the community. (If the weather is too cold or wet, the event will be held 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.
NOTE: THIS PAGE IS UNDER RECONSTRUCTION TO UPDATE FOR OUR 2023 EVENT! MORE TO COME!
Watch for our Facebook page to be updated soon with our new name and information! 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/AGM.St.Johns.UCC/
THE PARTICIPATING CGM ORGANIZATIONS:
(Listed in alphabetical order, subject to change)
Alpha Bravo Canine – https//www.alphabravocanine.org/ Alpha Bravo Canine’s mission is to provide trained service dogs to U.S military veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and other combat related disabilities.
Angel Flight East – http://angelflighteast.org (AFE) is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the community by facilitating free air transportation for children and adults with medical conditions who need to get to treatment far from home.
Bethany Children’s Home – http://www.bethanyhome.org/ The mission of Bethany Children’s Home is 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. 1863 Bethany Rd Womelsdorf, PA 19567. (610) 589-4501
Doctors Without Borders – http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/ We are Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). We help people worldwide where the need is greatest, delivering emergency medical aid to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from health care.
The Fred Rogers Company – http://www.fredrogers.org/ We honor Fred “Mister Rogers” by carrying on his work. We’re proud to be building on Fred’s legacy in innovative ways through a wide variety of media, and engaging new generations of children and families with his timeless wisdom.
Good Samaritan Fund/Emergency Fund – Outreach Team | St Johns UCC (st-johns-ucc.org) These are special funds used at the discretion of our St. John’s pastors to help people in our Lansdale area community who need emergency financial help with bills and payments, etc. Run by St. John’s UCC Lansdale.
Hedwig House – https://www.hedwighouse.org/ Provides support, job training, and long-term housing to individuals with mental illness. The goal of Hedwig House is to provide support and assistance to individuals with mental illness in pursuit of independence and personal fulfillment.
Hispanic Federation/UNIDOS – https://hispanicfederation.org/ Hispanic Federation (HF) is the nation’s premier Latino nonprofit membership organization. Founded in 1990, HF seeks to support Hispanic families and strengthen Latino institutions through work in the areas of education, health, immigration, civic engagement, economic empowerment, & the environment.
Kitty Cottage – http://www.kittycottage.org/ A loving adoption center and shelter for homeless cats, Nonprofit, No-kill, & Cage-free. 317 W. Johnson Highway, East Norriton, Pa. 610-731-0101. Volunteers needed! Hours: Monday & Tuesday: Closed Wednesday – Friday: 11:00 AM-5:00 PM Saturday & Sunday: 11:00 AM-3:00 PM.
Laurel House – http://https://laurel-house.org/ The mission of Laurel House is to: Advocate for and empower those impacted by domestic violence by providing crisis intervention, safe haven, supportive programs and resources & Advance social change through preventative education and through community training and collaboration to foster a coordinated response to domestic abuse. Laurel House is a comprehensive domestic violence agency serving individuals, families and communities throughout Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
Learning for Justice – https://www.learningforjustice.org/ Formerly known as Teaching Tolerance. Working with educators, schools, students & communities, Learning for Justice seeks 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. We provide free resources to educators who work with children from kindergarten through high school. Educators use our materials to supplement the curriculum, inform their practices, & create inclusive school communities where children & youth are respected, valued & welcome participants.
Logan’s Heroes – http://http://lharinc.org/ Our mission is to rescue homeless, neglected and abused animals and place them into life-long homes while placing an emphasis on the human-animal relationship and its ability to help heal those that need it most. We have created programs and partnered with other organizations to promote this benefit and place an emphasis on supporting Veterans.
Malala Fund – www.malala.org Malala and Ziauddin Yousafzai founded Malala Fund in 2013 to champion every girl’s right to 12 years of free, safe, quality education. Malala Fund is working for a world where every girl can learn and lead. With more than 130 million girls out of school today, we’re breaking down barriers that hold girls back. We invest in local educators and advocates — the people who best understand girls in their communities — in regions where the most girls are missing out on secondary school. We advocate — at local, national and international levels — for resources and policy changes needed to give all girls a secondary education. We amplify girls’ voices and share their stories through Assembly, our digital publication and newsletter.
Manna On Main Street – https://mannaonmain.org/ Manna on Main Street is committed to ending hunger in the North Penn region by providing food, fulfilling social service and education needs, and conducting community outreach. Through a food pantry and soup kitchen, emergency financial aid, counseling and referrals, and education opportunities, Manna serves those in need with the hope “that everyone might be fed.” 606 E. Main Street, Lansdale. (215) 855-5454
North Penn Valley Boys and Girls Club – click on ‘Great Futures Start Here’ below for their website:
We serve nearly 4,000 children and teens between the ages of 6 & 18 each year at two facilities: The North Penn Valley Club in Lansdale, and the Indian Valley Club in Souderton. We promise a safe, welcoming, supportive, & positive environment open to all children and teens. We offer nearly 50 different recreational activities each year, including soccer, baseball & flag football leagues, photography & art classes, and character-building programs such as Smart Girls & Passport to Manhood. Our key academic program is Project Learn, an after school homework assistance program. Our Summer Camp hosts hundreds of children each week from June through August for organized sports, arts, crafts, and theme days. Children & teens can come to the Club after school each weekday to enjoy free time & socialize with friends. Programs are led by trained Youth Development Professionals; our environment is safe & supervised. www.npvclub.org/
The Seeing Eye – http://www.seeingeye.org/ The Seeing Eye’s mission is to enhance the independence, dignity and self-confidence of people who are blind, through the use of specially trained Seeing Eye® dogs. In pursuit of this mission, The Seeing Eye breeds and raises puppies to become Seeing Eye dogs, trains Seeing Eye dogs to guide blind people, instructs blind people in the proper use, handling, and care of the dogs and conducts and supports research on canine health and development.
UrbanPromise – www.urbanpromiseusa.org The mission at UrbanPromise is to equip Camden’s children and young adults with the skills necessary for academic achievement, life management, spiritual growth, and Christian leadership. They strive to fulfill this mission through after-school programs, summer camps, two schools, experiential learning, job training, & a host of other programs that challenge youth to develop & realize their potential. (856) 661-1700
Wissahickon Trails – https://wissahickontrails.org/ A non-profit land trust founded in 1957 to protect the quality and beauty of the Wissahickon Creek & Watershed. We inspire and engage diverse communities of people to protect, steward, and enjoy the land and waterways of the Wissahickon Valley. (215) 646-8866
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 just 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/AGM.St.Johns.UCC/
How Does It Work – The format is simple – a one-stop ‘shopping mall’ filling the Assembly hall 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/
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!
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!
