By Taylor Rey
Students of the Wimberly School of Religion have organized a way to give a gift that gives back with the alternative gift market this holiday season.
Students can make a donation to Methodist charities, including Project Transformation, which provides kids with homework help and literacy instruction and the opportunity to support various charities around the world.
They can make the donation in the name of a friend or family member and give it to them as a gift. Each gift comes with a Christmas card explaining what was purchased.
“I think it is a great gesture for students to get involved supporting important causes, all over the world,” said Rachel Honaker, senior intern for Religious Life. “This is a great way to do so. It allows us to reach out beyond ourselves at a time of year that tends to be very materialistic.”
Markets, similar to the one at OCU, are set up internationally and all across the United States during the holidays.
All gifts cost under $10 and some are only $1.
Alternative gifts in past years have included, groceries for one person for a day for $5, one book for a school library for $6, one week of high-quality formula for $8, meals for one child for a week for $6 and 40 doses of medicine for $1.
“Instead of giving someone something like a gift card to Starbucks, you can give them a card saying that you bought food or medicine for someone in need in a third-world country, which is much more meaningful” said Logan Herod, president of Kappa Phi Christian sorority and vocal education/church music senior.
The market will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 24 through Dec. 5 in Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center, Meinders School of Business, Walker Center for Arts and Sciences, and Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel.
Herod encourages students to purchase an alternative gift.
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