Methodist church offers alternative holiday market

Moorpark United Methodist Church will present an Alternative Christmas Market from 9:30 to 11 a.m. and noon to 1 p.m. Sun., Dec. 7 at the church, 261 Flory Ave., Moorpark.

Shoppers are invited to bring their shopping lists and discover a selection of "gifts of hope" that will benefit families in need while honoring the individuals on their shopping list in a very unique way. A gift card will be provided that can be given to the recipient of the gift, describing the contribution that has been made in his or her honor.

According to the church, "Your gift of chickens will support a family in Guatemala with nutritious eggs. Your gift of a share of a heifer will mean milk every day to hungry children in Uganda. Your gift will carry the hope of ending hunger in families and ever-widening communities. Your gift will be used to help a family become self-sufficient, to build a home, to create a healthy smile, or to expand a child’s world through reading. There will be a lot of bright hopes that will come wrapped up with these alternative gifts."

Handmade gifts created by Third World people will also be on sale, and their purchase, again according to the church, "will send funds back to cooperatives in developing countries, to support families laboring to lift themselves out of poverty."

For further information, please call Marilyn Green at (805) 531-6420.