Cows, chickens and other unusual gifts

Shoppers at church fair buy farm animals for families in need; handmade crafts are also available.Not everyone gives out livestock as Christmas presents, but that’s exactly what Leslie and Ralph Purdy, Irvine residents and 30-year members of St. Mark Presbyterian Church, chose to do.

At the Newport Beach church’s annual Alternative Christmas Market on Sunday, the Purdys made a donation to the Heifer Project, a nonprofit organization that pays for livestock, technical training in animal care, and transportation for people in developing countries. The Purdys will send out cards to their friends and relatives informing them that animals have been purchased in their names.

“I think the whole family will end up buying a cow or goat or something,” Leslie Purdy said, adding that she believes strongly in the Heifer organization because it helps people become more independent.

The Purdys plan their Christmas shopping around the church’s Alternative Christmas Market, an annual event at which vendors sell hand-crafted goods to raise money. All the profits benefiting charities including the Heifer Project, Habitat for Humanity, UNICEF and many more.

Church member and Costa Mesa resident Judy Gielow said St. Mark has been holding the sale for 22 years.

“This is a church where people say, ‘If you’re going to give money, don’t give until it hurts. Give until it feels good,’” she said. “I’ve had fun with this kind of shopping.... I don’t know how many people have fun Christmas shopping.”

After making a donation to the Heifer Project last year, Gielow sent cards to members of her family informing them she had purchased, in their names, a flock of chickens to help support a needy family.

She said she had fun finding knick-knacks and other items to go along with card, such as a sweatshirt embroidered with a chicken and a small egg.

“It’s fun for me, it’s fun for them,” she said, adding that it all went to a good cause.

Pastor Gary Collins said the sale brings in $12,000 to $15,000 to help support the various charities every year.

Volunteer Mark Mansell manned the Third World Arts booth at Sunday’s event. Third World Arts buys goods from co-ops throughout the world, ensuring that the people who make the goods earn a higher profit than they would if they were to sell their goods to large companies.

“Everyone’s doing their Christmas shopping and doing good at the same time,” Mansell said. “It’s kind of what we like to do.”

Irvine resident Marjorie Rooney bought several items at the sale, including handmade scarves from Stitches from the Heart, free-trade coffee and a pin from Habitat for Humanity.

“It’s a great chance to give to yourself and others,” Rooney said.

* LINDSAY SANDHAM is the news assistant. She can be reached at (714) 966-4625.

20051121iq9si9knKENT TREPTOW / DAILY PILOT(LA)Greg Vacca, left, buys an olivewood carving from Anne Christensen at the Alternative Christmas Market at St. Mark Presbyterian Church on Sunday. Proceeds benefited charity.