Alternative Christmas at First, Shelbyville

First Presbyterian Church, Shelbyville, TN, in an effort to make Christmas giving less consumer oriented and more in keeping with the celebration of Christ's birth, held its second alternative Christmas market November 18, 2006 in the church fellowship hall. Shoppers had a diverse group of organizations from which to choose this year. Local non-profits included Good Samaritan, Community Development Center, Caregiver Relief, Healthy Families and the Community Clinic. This gave buyers choices of contributing to the care of people of all ages with needs ranging from food to health care. Heifer International and Equal Exchange Coffee were popular stops for returning shoppers as well as newcomers. Other regional and international organizations which were represented included Sparrow Rainbow Village, an inter¬denominational ministry caring for destitute terminally ill adults and children with HIV/AIDS in South Africa; Medical Benevolence Foundation, Rivers of the World, Living Waters for the World, Outreach Foundation and MTSU Presbyterian Student Fellowship.

In addition to raising $5609, this event raised shoppers' awareness of ministries both local and international and how they might impact and connect with people in great need.