Holiday bazaar to sell charitable gifts.

It’s easy to get carried away going through the motions during the holidays. Somewhere between all the cleaning and baking and buying and decorating, we often lose the spirit of giving that started it all. But for those looking for a little more meaning in their Christmas shopping this year, Newhall First Presbyterian Church offers its Alternative Christmas Gift Market.

From 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on November 22 and December 6, the community will get a chance to shop through rows of gifts on the church patio, all with a charitable or humanitarian aspect. The sale will include both local and international aid organizations.

Items for sale will include jewelry, crafts, fair trade coffee, and books like The Legend of Wunderbar, sales of which will support church camp scholarships.

“Fair trade practices means the growers and craft people are paid fair wages for their work.  We
only have groups at our Alternative Christmas Market that follow these policies,” said Carol Wheeler, who heads the Alternative Christmas Market.

Notable newcomers to this year’s Market include Importing Peace One, which helps Palestinian olive farmers and bottlers reach markets. The Mary Magdalene Mercantile, which aids victims of street prostitution, will also be represented.

First Presbyterian is located at 24317 N. Newhall Avenue. Other groups being represented include the following:  Free Wheelchair Mission, Habitat for Humanity, Heifer International, Help the Children Santa Clarita, Monte Vista Grove Home, Santa Clarita Winter Shelter, Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center, Presbyterian Women Palm Project, Presbyterian Coffee Project, and Ten Thousand Villages.