Some gifts just can’t be put in a box, wrapped and tied with a bow. Some you can’t even hold in your hands, while others may be literally handed to one, but given to another –to a person across the world you might not ever meet in this life.
These are the gifts the Friends at the Mattapoisett Friends Meeting House had to offer on November 14 during their annual Alternative Gift Fair held each year before the holidays. And even if you missed the chance to visit the Friends on this day, they want you to know that it is still possible this Christmas to be mindful, thoughtful in your gift-giving, while showing the people in your life that some gifts must be experienced to be appreciated.
There was a variety of alternative gifts to consider, all represented at the Meeting House in one form or another.
Take the gift of membership, for example, over an item that gives once and is soon forgotten once trees are taken down and presents put away. The Mattapoisett Historical Society hopes you might consider giving your loved ones in love with our local history a membership to enjoy all the benefits, such as free admission to the museum and events, and discounts on merchandise.
Maureen McCarthy of the Historical Society stressed the importance of knowing and appreciating local history.
“If we ignore our history, we’re just another place,” said McCarthy. If one knows their local history and learns to appreciate it, she said, “It makes your living place a whole lot more relevant to you. It’s all part of the fabric of it.”
A Buzzards Bay Coalition membership is like giving another (and yourself) the gift of a cleaner, more vibrant bay and the promise that it will be protected and will retain its beauty for generations. The BBC table at the gift fair was lined with BBC caps, T-shirts, and maps of protected areas, as well as renderings of future projects that rely on the funding of new memberships.
Why not give the gift of a bike path? The Friends of the Mattapoisett Bike Path were represented that day, offering merchandise and ways to donate as a meaningful gift for someone that will ensure the tires keep on turning towards the realization of a cohesive bike path that will finally connect the area towns.
Real estate makes a great gift in the form of protected conservation land that you, your family, and everyone can enjoy from a membership with the Mattapoisett Land Trust.
MLT Treasurer Gary Johnson, in addition to offering memberships, was peddling his latest gift idea – his handmade squirrel feeders – with proceeds of the squirrel feeder sales going directly toward the benefit of the land trust.
“I thought people would be interested in getting squirrels away from their bird feeders by giving them their own,” said Johnson. He had not yet sold a single one, until suddenly, Mark Anderson of Mattapoisett came over, flashed his $50, and bought the very first one.
There were handicrafts made by fair trade women crafters of the nonprofit organization SERRV for sale, with ethical profit sharing with the people who make them. Equal Exchange coffee and chocolate were on display as well and are still available for purchase through the Friends for the fair trade coffee-loving friends in your life.
The Mattapoisett folks involved with Sanga Sangai, a small nonprofit in Nepal that feeds, clothes, and provides educational opportunities to street children, had their table of knick-knacks and handcrafted beaded necklaces and bracelets, with all proceeds going directly to their friends at Sanga Sangai. Johanna Duponte of Mattapoisett said the Nepal earthquakes devastated the organization’s school and headquarters, and they are still in great need of funding to help rebuild. Her granddaughter, Ava Duponte, 5, created gift cards with markers, crayons, pens, paints, and other implements of mass creation to sell, and they are still available for $1 a piece.
Representatives from the St. Vincent de Paul at St. Gabriel’s Church were giving cards to accompany donations made in another’s name to benefit the food pantry, and there was a table set up with a myriad of other alternative gift organizations like Heifer International, Doctors without Borders, and Operation Smile for making life-changing donations as a gift in another’s name.
Consider the impact your gift can make this Christmas. The Friends have invited anyone wishing to learn more about their suggestions for alternative gifts to contact them at tomanddeena@gmail.com.
You may also find further information at www.mattapoisetthistoricalsociety.org, www.savebuzzardsbay.org, www.mattapoisettrailtrail.org, www.mattlandtrust.org, www.serrv.org, and www.sangasangai.org.np.
By Jean Perry
