Your congregation can use Gifts for Life catalogs to take on projects together and discover they can make a real difference and provide hope to those in need around the world.

Together, the members of your church can raise money to purchase a water buffalo for a family … mosquito netting or a well for a small village …  farming tools for 15 families … educate 30 children orphaned by AIDS for a year … or even rebuild an entire house after a natural disaster! Click here to view all gifts in the Gifts for Life online store.

Here are some creative ideas your congregation can use to raise money to purchase gifts that will change lives worldwide:

• Plan a Gifts for Life: Alternative Gift Market, a one-day event where members of your congregation can “shop” and purchase gifts that help people in need around the world. Your congregation can combine the Gifts for Life: Alternative Gift Market with a church fair or bazaar. For more information, visit www.er-d.org/agm.
• Hold a weekend holiday retreat with a special speaker to explore challenges facing people living in poverty. Donate a life-changing gift in the name of the retreat speaker.
• Organize a church-wide “garage sale” to raise money. Use the proceeds to support one of the Gifts for Life offers.
• Have your adult or children’s Sunday school class select a gift and raise money through a weekly offering. Have the class host a special dinner with admission available for a charge. Use the proceeds to purchase a selection from the Gifts for Life catalog.
• Arrange a silent auction. Ask members of your congregation to donate items that can be used to auction away. Select a day, time and location for the auction and make sure to let your members know. Display the items and have pieces of paper that people can write their bids and names. Use the money from the auction to support a Gifts for Life offer.

Also see ideas for schools and families