CHICAGO — To give to "the person who has everything" and people who have very little this holiday season, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is offering some "alternative" gift-giving ideas. According to an ELCA news release, through the ELCA World Hunger Appeal, members of the church have the opportunity for one-stop shopping that honors family and friends this holiday season with exclusive gifts that can change lives.
"Giving a donation to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal in honor of family and friends is a gift that means more than one extra tie or pair of slippers," said Kathryn Sime, director, ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal. "In this case it's the thought and the gift that count," she said.
To help break out of the frenzied "spend-give" cycle, Sime suggests that Lutherans give to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal. This form of gift-giving offers Lutherans a chance to purchase animals, water supplies, health kits and more to help people in need across the United States and overseas. "Animal husbandry, water projects, health care and assistance to refugees are key elements of the ELCA's world hunger ministry," she said.
To help personalize the donation, "alternative Christmas gift cards" can be used to notify gift recipients that a donation has been made in their honor. A collection of "seven perforated card enclosures range in sentiment from the serious to the silly," said Edison-Swift. "New and blue 'Go and do likewise' gift cards come ready for you to personalize," she said.
Alternative gift-giving ideas are available in the "ELCA World Hunger Alternative Giving Ideas Catalog." The catalog is free and offers gift-donation ideas ranging from $1 to $16,000. It provides direction on how to give, additional resources and information.
"Churches, Sunday school programs and other groups can use the catalog to learn about ELCA world hunger work in concrete, understandable ways," said Edison-Swift.
The catalog is available from Augsburg Fortress Publishers, Minneapolis, the publishing ministry of the ELCA.
If "alternative gifts to ELCA World Hunger won't satisfy your whole Christmas gift list, purchases on the Internet can be made at Barnes & Noble, Lands End and other retailers that will give a percentage of the online purchase to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal," said Edison-Swift. A list of retailers is available on the Internet at
www.elca.org/hunger. The Web site also offers "e-cards" to announce gifts made to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal, she said.
