The Alternative Christmas Gift Fair is a unique opportunity to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ in a way that provides an alternative to the consumer frenzy, which seems to dominate our culture. St. Camillus has held the Alternative Christmas Gift fair every year since 2008. The proceeds from the sale of gift cards have help raise awareness among parishioners and support good works / organizations that are involved in bringing about God's presence and healing hope throughout the world such as: projects of CRS in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Heifer, Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation, CRS sustainable water project, Salvadoran Enterprises for Women, Seeds of Learning in Nicaragua, Global Partners Water project in Quiche, Guatemala, among others.

In 2017, over $12,000 was raised for the Feiffe Foundation which serves children and women in Haiti with schools, scholarships, summer camps, and vocational training plus plans to construct a library and a clinic in Haiti.
In 2016, over $13,000 was raised for children’s scholarships in Honduras.
In 2015, $46,855 was raise to provide potable water to 60 indigenous communities in the rural area of Guatemala. 

Every July the nominations open up for the annual CHRISTMAS ALTERNATIVE GIFT FAIR (held in December). Some basics: 

• Must be nominated by a parish member

• Must be an International non-profit 501-3C charity

• Must have under 10% expenses

• Parishioner nominating must have first hand knowledge or be involved in the charity in some way. 

• Nomination forms may be obtained at the Parish Office.

 
The ALTERNATIVE GIFT FAIR provides an opportunity for people to give a donation to the selected organization(s) in lieu of or in addition to giving someone on your Christmas gift list a material gift.  When a donation is made, the donor is given a gift card which tells about the charity and can be given to someone as a gift. Great for office gifts, family gifts, etc. instead of having to purchase something at the store!  

In 2017, over $12,000 was raised for the Feiffe Foundation which serves children and women in Haiti with schools, scholarships, summer camps, and vocational training plus plans to construct a library and a clinic in Haiti.

In 2016, over $13,000 was raised for children’s scholarships in Honduras.

In 2015, $46,855 was raise to provide potable water to 60 indigenous communities in the rural area of Guatemala.