Alternative Gifts Expo - giving a “world of good”

St. Paul’s Alternative Gifts Expo returns on Sunday, Dec. 10, 9:00AM-2:30PM in the Great Hall, St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral 2728 Sixth Ave, San Diego, CA

New: a Silent Auction of the 21 piece porcelain nativity by Lenox released from 1986-2009 will be offered. Opening bids start at $400 (Fair Market Value is $1,240). Bids open at 9:30AM and close at 2PM on Dec. 10 in the Great Hall. See it on display in the Great Hall on December 10.

Coming together with common values, our St. Paul’s community demonstrates an alternative to our commercial, consumptive culture-a colorful and festive marketplace with choices of gifts that revolve around issues you care about.

Alternative gifts prioritize meaning over materials — they may include a charitable donation in honor of a family member to provide health care in Haiti, or handcrafted note cards that support a nursing college in Kenya. Donations in a friend’s honor may also provide translators to assist war-ravaged refugees seeking help with everyday government transactions.

Shoppers can also visit tables hosted by non-profit organizations that strengthen the Fair Trade practices by buying handcrafted items produced by artisans in economically disadvantaged areas of the world. When you buy Fair Trade products you are encouraging safe and ethical business practices.

Alternative gifts cost you less money, are less costly for the environment, and are less commercialized—but really, they’re all about infusing the holiday season with more: more meaning, more joy, and more fun. 

Enjoy yourself, and bring a friend and the kids! Children will find there is a selection of small priced items that make special gifts for friends or family.

Besides a wintery ambience we will be serving free-of-charge yummy Tomorrow Project soup and bread from 11:30AM-2:30PM, and we will accept Cash, Check and Credit cards for donations and products. Festive recorder music by The Granada Consort will be performed throughout the event.

Vendors Include:

• Equal Exchange/Fair Trade- Chocolate, Coffee, Tea, olive oil, nuts, and more
• Around the World Gifts- Fair Trade products that include decorative gifts, bags, accessories
• Kitchens for Good- Kitchens for Good is a social enterprise with the mission to break the cycles of food waste, hunger, and poverty through innovate solutions in workforce training....Their products feature condiments and spicy jellies that boast a unique and delicious flavor, featuring a spicy kick and local craft beers.   
• Episcopal Refugee Network- Donations to assist San Diego refugees from war-torn regions
• Mission in Maseno (Kenya)- handcrafted note cards benefitting the AIDS/HIV hospital and small nursing college 
• Haiti Health- Donate to help purchase blood pressure medications for Dr. Bart Smoot’s Blood Pressure Clinic Plant with Purpose- Donations to renew the earth with gifts of trees, chicks, family gardens, bunnies, tee shirts Golden Rule Boutique- Handmade clothing Fair Trade products for the betterment of children, women and families Nonviolent Peaceforce- Buy a Peace Bond or potholder to support this group’s training of civilians to provide unarmed civilian peacekeeping in violent areas of the world
• Tomorrow Project- Fabulous soups (enjoy a cup for lunch!), spice rubs, and rice mixes train and empower low-income women for work readiness

• Fair Trade Décor-Decorative home items and personal accessories that provide legitimate and sustainable means for people around the world to pull themselves out of poverty
• Vida Joven de Mexico- Donations to provide Mexican children 3-18 years who have been abandoned or have a parent in jail with love, protection, and education
• Malia Designs- Fair trade producer groups who offer marginalized people in Cambodia exposure to Western Markets to keep a sustainable income through sales of silk items, unusual bags, and wallets
• Lumily- Works directly with partner artisans in Guatemala, Mexico and Thailand to pay a fair wage, give hope, and provide a percentage of profit back to the artisan community through sales of jewelry, large and small bags, key chains, and clothing
• Melinda’s Homemade Jams in support of the Cathedral Memorial Organ

St. Paul’s Youth are also part of the Alternative Gifts Expo. Hand-made knitted and crocheted items will be available.


--Paula Peeling

ALternative Gift Exp Returns Dec 11!

St. Paul’s Alternative Gifts Expo returns! 
Sunday, Dec. 11, 8:30AM-1:30PM 
The Great Hall, St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral 
 2728 Sixth Ave, San Diego, CA

Coming together with common values, our St. Paul’s community demonstrates an alternative to our commercial, consumptive culture-a colorful and festive marketplace with choices of gifts that revolve around issues you care about.

Alternative gifts prioritize meaning over materials — they may include a charitable donation in honor of a family member to provide health care in Haiti, or handcrafted note cards that support a nursing college in Kenya. Donations in a friend’s honor may also provide translators to assist war-ravaged refugees seeking help with everyday government transactions.

Shoppers can also visit tables hosted by non-profit organizations that strengthen the Fair Trade practices by buying handcrafted items produced by artisans in economically disadvantaged areas of the world. When you buy Fair Trade products you are encouraging safe and ethical business practices.

Alternative gifts cost you less money, are less costly for the environment, and are less commercialized—but really, they’re all about infusing the holiday season with more: more meaning, more joy, and more fun.

Enjoy yourself, and bring a friend and the kids! Children will find there is a selection of small priced items that make special gifts for friends or family.

Besides a wintery ambience we will be serving free-of-charge yummy Tomorrow Project soup and bread from 11:30AM-1PM, and we will accept Cash, Check and Credit cards for donations and products. Festive recorder music by The Granada Consort will be performed throughout the event.

Vendors Include:

• Equal Exchange/Fair Trade- Chocolate, Coffee, Tea, olive oil, nuts, and more
• Around the World Gifts- Fair Trade products that include decorative gifts, bags, accessories
• Episcopal Refugee Network- Donations to assist San Diego refugees from war-torn regions
• Mission in Maseno (Kenya)- handcrafted note cards benefitting the AIDS/HIV hospital and small nursing college
• Haiti Health- Donate to help purchase blood pressure medications for Dr. Bart Smoot’s Blood Pressure Clinic
• Plant with Purpose- Donations to renew the earth with gifts of trees, chicks, family gardens, bunnies, tee shirts
• Golden Rule Boutique- Handmade clothing Fair Trade products for the betterment of children, women and families
• Nonviolent Peaceforce- Buy a Peace Bond or potholder to support this group’s training of civilians to provide unarmed civilian peacekeeping in violent areas of the world
• Ten Thousand Villages- a myriad of unusual small gifts from the Fair Trade communities across the globe
• Tomorrow Project- Fabulous soups (enjoy a cup for lunch!), spice rubs, and rice mixes train and empower low-income women for work readiness Fair Trade Décor-Decorative home items and personal accessories that provide legitimate and sustainable means for people around the world to pull themselves out of poverty
• Vida Joven de Mexico- Donations to provide Mexican children 3-18 years who have been abandoned or have a parent in jail with love, protection, and education
• Malia Designs- Fair trade producer groups who offer marginalized people in Cambodia exposure to Western Markets to keep a sustainable income through sales of silk items, unusual bags, and wallets
• Lumily- Works directly with partner artisans in Guatemala, Mexico and Thailand to pay a fair wage, give hope, and provide a percentage of profit back to the artisan community through sales of jewelry, large and small bags, key chains, and clothing
• Melinda’s Homemade Jams in support of the Cathedral Memorial Organ

St. Paul’s Simpler Living, and Children, Youth and Families also are part of the Alternative Gifts Expo. Both will provide small-priced items for children to give or receive.

A second chance for the Gift Expo!

The Alternative Gift EXPO was enjoyed by many on Nov. 22! Sorry if you missed it, but you have another chance - a Mini-EXPO following the Mananitas for the Virgin of Guadalupe on Dec. 12. 

Service at 6, EXPO 7-8:30 (along with Fiesta!). All of this is a great way to connect with our Misa congregation and have a wonderful time. 

Carolyn Lief

Change the World: The Alternative Gift Expo returns!

CHANGE THE WORLD… BUY A DOLL from the ANDES at St. Paul’s Cathedral! 

St. Paul’s Alternative Gift Expo returns on Sunday, Nov. 22, 8:30AM-1:30PM to the Great Hall! 

Coming together with common values, our St. Paul’s community demonstrates an alternative to our commercial consumptive culture-a colorful and festive marketplace with choices of gifts that revolve around issues you care about. Donate chicks to a Central American family in the honor of a beloved friend. Perhaps you will buy savory soup mixes to feed your family on Sunday evening. Even become a source of venture capital at La Maestra Foundation for a struggling new entrepreneur.

Enjoy yourself, and bring a friend and the kids! Children will find there is a selection of small priced items that make special gifts for friends or family.

P.S. Yummy Tomorrow Project soup and bread will be offered for refreshment, and we will accept Cash, Check and Credit cards

Offerings Include:

• Equal Exchange/Fair Trade Chocolate, Coffee, Tea and more- $1-$15
• Q’ewar Project- beautiful handmade dolls of cotton, soft sheep and alpaca wool
• Episcopal Relief and Development- Donations of mosquito nets, goats, chickens, pigs…! $12+
• Episcopal Community Services- Subway and Target Gift Cards for Downtown Safe Haven (our close neighbor) and Friend to Friend (helping adults with mental disabilities get their feet on the ground), $10 and $25
• The Meeting Place Clubhouse- sales of succulents in creative planters, candy cane flower vases, photo squares, hot chocolate in jars, and cookie mix, assist adults with mental conditions re-enter the workplace, $5-$10
• Mission in Maseno (Kenya)- handcrafted note cards benefitting the AIDS/HIV hospital and small college, $15
• Haiti Health Clinic- help purchase blood pressure medications for Dr. Bart Smoot’s Blood Pressure Clinic- $20+
• Plant with Purpose- renew the earth with gifts of trees, chicks, family gardens, bunnies, $1+
• Nonviolent Peaceforce- Buy a Peace Bond or potholder to support this group’s training of civilians to provide unarmed civilian peacekeeping in violent areas of the world, $10
• Ten Thousand Villages- a myriad of unusual small gifts from fair trade communities across the globe, a varied range of prices
• Tomorrow Project- fabulous soups (enjoy a cup for lunch!), spice rubs, and rice mixes train and empower low-income women for work readiness, $7+

Other opportunities will be offered from Habitat for Humanity, Simpler Living, Vida Joven, RefugeeNet, Uptown Faith Community Service Center, and the St. John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem.

 Melinda will be on hand with her delicious jams that support the St. Paul’s Organ Fund.

Join us!

Alternative gift Expo: Thanks!

I hope most of you were able to participate in the hugely successful Alternative Gift EXPO on November 23rd!

 I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to the EXPO committee: to Paula Peeling for publicity and Emily Velez-Confer for graphics (posters and printing); to Doug Clark for organizing the cashiers (a big job due to using credit cards and centralizing check-out); Suzanne Papp for the soup café (and Paula Peeling who stepped right up to fill in for Suzanne’s ill husband); Elaine Graybill for setting up the hall and décor; Sandy Lawrensen for handling the Ten Thousand Villages crafts; Christie Batten for the coffee and chocolate sales with an enhanced inventory for the EXPO; John Stender-Custer for working with the high school youth on the Episcopal Relief & Development booth. Of course this meant a lot of background support from their families!

 

Special thanks to Erin Sacco-Pineda for helping with special accounting tasks! The sexton staff assisted, worked around us and with us.

Thanks also to other Cathedral parishioners who staffed tables: Robin Taylor (ECS); Bart Smoot (Haiti health); Dorcas House team, Richard Lee and others; Julia Nunez (Peruvian dolls); Colin Mathewson (Salvadoran crafts); Rob Donaldson (St. John’s Eye Hospital); Dale Hoppenrath (Uptown Interfaith); Phil Petrie (Simpler Living); High school youth (ERD); Marilyn Slater (Nonviolent Peace Force; Melinda Oslie’s great jams; members of St. Paul’s Foundation support team.



A real treat was the Karen dancers from the Episcopal Refugee Network program! The ERN leader reported that after the young people performed to people came to her to offer volunteer services. Several vendors commented that they enjoyed getting to know some of the outside organizations they worked beside during the event. As always we appreciated background piano music by Chris Schneider.

What a great gift we offered God’s world. Lots for which to be thankful!

Carolyn Lief 

SPECIAL! PERUVIAN DOLLS AT EXPO

A unique opportunity awaits shoppers at the Alternative Gift EXPO on Sunday, November 23. Dolls from the Q’ewar Project near Cuzco, Peru will be for sale. The dolls and their clothing are handmade with all natural materials, such as cotton and handspun alpaca. Dolls that are blond or redheaded and wear European clothing are crafted for the American market. The Q’ewar Project was begun to help the destitute women of an Andean village, and now supports 50 women, creating a future for themselves and hope for their families.

The EXPO will be in the Great Hall from 8:30 a.m. – 1 PM next Sunday (the 23rd).  Join us there!

The Q'ewar Project

Alternative Gift Expo returns!

FORGET THE MALL… BUY A PIG at St. Paul’s Cathedral!

St. Paul’s Alternative Gift Expo returns on Sunday, Nov. 23, 8:30AM-1PM to the Great Hall!

Coming together with common values, our St. Paul’s community demonstrates an alternative to our commercial consumptive culture-a colorful and festive marketplace with choices for gifts that revolve around issues you care about. Donate chicks to a Central American family in the honor of a beloved friend. Perhaps you will buy savory soup mixes to feed your family on Sunday evening.

Enjoy yourself, and bring a friend and the kids!

P.S. Yummy Tomorrow Project soup and bread will be offered for refreshment, and we will accept both Cash and Credit cards

Offerings Include:

Fair Trade Chocolate, Coffee, Tea and more- $1-$15

Episcopal Relief and Development- Donations of mosquito nets, goats, chickens, pigs…! $12+

Episcopal Community Services- Subway and Target Gift Cards for Downtown Safe Haven (our close neighbor) and Friend to Friend (helping adults with mental disabilities get their feet on the ground), $10 and $25

The Meeting Place Clubhouse- sales of succulents in creative planters, candy cane flower vases, photo squares, hot chocolate in jars, and cookie mix, assist adults with mental conditions re-enter the workplace, $5-$10

Mission in Maseno (Kenya)- handcrafted note cards benefitting the AIDS/HIV hospital and small college, $15

Haiti Health Clinic- help purchase blood pressure medications for Dr. Bart Smoot’s Blood Pressure Clinic- $20+

Plant with Purpose- renew the earth with gifts of trees, chicks, family gardens, bunnies, $1+

Simpler Living- cloth shopping bags with Cathedral logo, $5

St. Mark’s City Heights- Taste of Community cookbook supports the Neighborhood Food Cupboard, $20

Salvadoran Crafts- crocheted aprons and purses, $20

Knitting4Peace- Peace Pal dolls that can be knitted or crocheted, $10, Note cards are $15

Nonviolent Peaceforce- Buy a Peace Bond or potholder to support this group’s training of civilians to provide unarmed civilian peacekeeping in violent areas of the world, $10

Ten Thousand Villages- a myriad of unusual small gifts from fair trade communities across the globe, a varied range of prices

Tomorrow Project- fabulous soups (enjoy a cup for lunch!), spice rubs, and rice mixes train and empower low-income women for work readiness, $7+

Other opportunities are hand crafted Peruvian dolls from the Q’ewar Project in the Andes, offerings from Dorcas House, Episcopal Refugee Network, Uptown Faith Community Service Center, and the St. John’s Hospital in Jerusalem. Melinda will be on hand with her delicious jams ($5)that support the St. Paul’s Organ Fund.