Dear Grace Presbyterian Church,
I came across a letter recently, written in 1998, congratulating Grace Presbyterian on its first Alternative Gift Market. Those of you who’ve been around a while know that what we now call the Wichita Alternative Gift Market started as a mission project of Grace Church. The first market raised $358.00 for projects in the Alternative Gifts International (AGI) catalog. Harriet Prichard, the founder and president of Alternative Gifts International, said she wanted to “stand with you in mission.”
Fast forward 22 years. Through the leadership of Carolyn Benefiel and her team, the Market grew to include dozens of area churches and other non-profit ‘partners’ to share the idea of alternative giving across Wichita. In 2019, the 25th Annual Wichita Alternative Gift Market was held at First Presbyterian raising over $37,000 for AGI and local projects, including Grace’s bus pass ministry project.
We have come a long way as a church and as a member of our larger Wichita community.
We had our Market last Saturday, November 14. About 100 people spent $22,000 dollars to support projects around the world and here locally. The weather was beautiful (if a bit windy), and we saw both established supporters and new shoppers turn out for the event. It was wonderful. Don’t worry if you missed it – we’re offering a mini-market at AGI’s local office. You can call the AGI office (269-0635) and tell them you want to shop the Wichita Alternative Gift Market – they have everything you need (including our handmade ornaments), and they’ll do curbside delivery for you.
You can still make a huge impact. One dollar ($1.00) still buys 40 doses of medicine for backpack medics in Myanmar. You can still feed the hungry, fight for social justice, preserve the environment, educate children (especially girls in countries where women aren’t treated as equals), provide medical care…and change the life of someone you will never meet.
Join us. You can also shop online at alternativegifts.org – just make sure that you indicate you’re shopping to support the Wichita Alternative Gift Market. Be a part of this amazing Grace legacy.
Wichita Alternative Gift Market
Mini-market at the AGI office, 269-0635 or online at Alternative Gifts International
Thank you, Grace Church, for your continued faithful ministry to a world in need.
ShareNOV