CAMARILLO : Charity Market Offers Shoppers Gift of Giving

Elizabeth McConnaughey and her family sat down to dinner Friday night and plotted out their one-stop Christmas shopping list. Saturday afternoon she trekked to Trinity Presbyterian Church in Camarillo to fill the list of goods at the Alternative Holiday Market.

“Uncle Herman in Black Mountain, North Carolina, loves to fix the kitchen sink, so we gave him a kitchen sink,” the occupational therapist said. “For my parents, cataract surgery because they gave me vision.”

The indoor market, complete with Christmas carols and hot apple cider for shoppers, is one of about 25 such charitable bazaars that will be held at Ventura County congregations through Dec. 5.

Here’s how the market concept works: Instead of Uncle Herman receiving the kitchen sink, Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County will install the sink in the home of a needy family. The uncle will instead receive a Christmas card saying the sink has been purchased in his honor.

“There’s something here for everyone,” said Jeanine Faria, coordinator for the Ventura County Hunger Coalition.

“Maybe your father is a carpenter,” Faria said. “Well, instead of giving him another tie, buy him a bundle of shingles. They will be used to upgrade a house for the needy that wouldn’t otherwise have the means to make the repairs.”

The eight participating nonprofit agencies include Heifer Project International, Project Understanding, Church World Service and Presbyterian Medical Missions, which provides sight-saving cataract surgery. The plethora of gifts include vaccinations, woolen blankets, farm animals, building materials, foods, prenatal maternal care and school materials.

Eric and Betsy Metzgar of Camarillo strolled through the hall with daughters Jennie, 7, and Carrie, 4.

The Metzgars bought numerous gifts from the Self Help Crafts table, which offers handcrafted wares made by poverty-stricken peasants from around the world.

“We decided gift-giving this way was so much more meaningful,” Betsy Metzgar said.

“Shopping in here is like traveling around the world,” Eric Metzgar said.

The Metzgars also came to purchase a flock of 10 chickens for their friends.

“These two friends are a little flighty, so we thought it would be appropriate,” Eric Metzgar joked.

Coordinators said the markets have been held in Ventura County for the past 10 years.

Michele Eaton, 29, of Ventura was a repeat customer of the markets. She and her three young children traveled to Camarillo on Saturday with a long list of ideas for family members. The Ventura College nursing student purchased numerous gifts, including chickens, vaccinations and house paints.

“This really makes you feel you’re in the spirit of giving,” she said. “Besides, what do you get someone who already has everything?

“Anything they want, you couldn’t afford anyway.”

Charity Shopping

Future Alternative Holiday Markets will be held at the following locations:

TODAY

* St. Matthews United Methodist Church, 1360 S. Wendy Drive, Newbury Park. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Nov. 13

* Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, 588 Camino de Manzanas, Thousand Oaks. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

* First Baptist Church, 426 S. Mills Road, Ventura. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

* Simi Valley Presbyterian Church, 4832 Cochran St., Simi Valley. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Nov. 14

* Camarillo United Methodist Church, 291 Anacapa Drive, Camarillo. 10 a.m. to noon.

* Church of the Foothills, 6279 Foothill Road, Ventura. 9:30 a.m. to noon.

* First United Methodist Church, 1338 E. Santa Clara St., Ventura. 9 a.m. to noon.

* Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church , 1 W. Avenida de los Arboles, Thousand Oaks.

Nov. 21

* Camarillo United Methodist Church, 291 Anacapa Drive, Camarillo. 10 a.m. to noon.

* College United Methodist Church, 16 Baylor Drive, Ventura. 10 a.m. to noon.

* First Presbyterian Church, 850 Ivywood Drive, Oxnard. 9 a.m. to noon.

* King of Glory Lutheran Church, 2500 Borchard Road, Newbury Park. 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

* Saint Columba’s Episcopal Church, 1251 E. Las Posas Road, Camarillo. 9 to 11:30 a.m.

* Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church, 1800 South C St., Oxnard. 9 a.m. to noon.

Nov. 28

* Saint Columba’s Episcopal Church, 1251 E. Las Posas Road, Camarillo. 9 to 11:30 a.m.

* Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church, 1800 South C St., Oxnard. 9 a.m. to noon.

Dec. 5

* Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 8180 Telephone Road, Ventura. 9:30 a.m. to noon.

* First United Methodist Church, 133 N. Mill St., Santa Paula. 11 a.m. to noon.

* Moorpark United Methodist Church, 261 Flory Ave., Moorpark. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

* North Oxnard United Methodist Church, 1801 N. Joliet Place, Oxnard. 11:30 a.m to 12:30 p.m.

* Santa Paula Presbyterian Church, 121 Davis St., Santa Paula. 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.