Markets That Focus on Giving

For socially conscious shoppers who just can’t bring themselves to bestow another fruitcake or necktie this year, the San Gabriel Valley offers a number of alternative holiday markets.

Proceeds from the markets go to a variety of causes such as the preservation of the world’s rain forests, shelter for the homeless and purchase of clean syringes for Eastern European hospitals and livestock for villages in far-flung regions of the world. Gift-givers make a donation in the recipient’s name and receive a greeting card to leave under the tree.

A $3 donation buys a rabbit, $30 buys a box of syringes, and up to $3,750 buys a year of job training for a disabled Navajo Indian.

Toys and dolls will also be on sale at markets through a group called Third World Hand Arts.

Following is a list of some alternative marketplaces in the San Gabriel Valley:

All Saints Episcopal Church will feature opportunities to donate to a number of relief programs around the world and to the church’s own charity projects for the homeless and the needy; 132 N. Euclid Ave., Pasadena; 8:15 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Sunday.

Students and staff of Occidental College are hosting an Alternative Holiday Mart; 1600 Campus Road, Herrick Interfaith Center, Eagle Rock; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today.

Claremont United Church of Christ Congregational Church, 233 W. Harrison Ave., Claremont; 11:15 a.m. Sunday.

St. James Presbyterian Church of San Gabriel, 200 W. Las Tunas Drive, San Gabriel; 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. today.