Vernon and North Okanagan

Photo: Contributed - Give a lasting gift

If you're thinking of giving something a little different this year for Christmas, consider 'Gifts with a Twist".

For the third year in a row the Give A Lasting Gift Society will be hosting a gift fair on December 1, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Schubert Centre in Vernon (3505 30 Ave).

The fair will feature local and international charities, it will also offer shoppers the opportunity to purchase non-material and non commercial items for holiday gifts.

Fair organizer Melanie Abbott says when people attend the fair, they will be given a shopping list and a menu, which shows all the items available for purchase from each organization.

"They can then go to each table and talk to the people about what their organization does. If the shopper wishes to purchase something from them, they check it off on their shopping list and receive a "voucher" from that table."

An example of a donation from last year's gift fair was to give $25 to the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation and in return provide a health care worker with a dementia care workshop, or $10 to the Vernon Woman's Transition House Society would provide phone cards, gas cards or toiletries to someone in need. 

Shoppers will receive a donation voucher and holiday card to give to the recipient of their gift.

The Give A Lasting Gift Society will collect all donations on the charity’s behalf and then mail out tax receipts to the shopper (available from most charitable organizations).

For more information click here.