Athens Annual Holiday Benevolence Market

12/11/2024

Thank you to all who attended the Holiday Benevolence Market last Sunday. If you were not able to attend, you can still choose meaningful and symbolic gifts on the shopping lists of 30+ non-profit mission partners through December 31 at this link:
https://forms.gle/mNj14CPFVsHFQL3J6

12/04/2024

This coming Sunday's 30th Annual Holiday Benevolence Market is featured in the Flagpole's Holiday Market Round-Up!

Please share it far and wide!

A holiday tradition all on its own, hundreds of local and regional artists and makers come together every December to showcase and sell their most recent handcrafted creations, demonstrating the strong entrepreneurial spirit and diverse talents within the community. Whether it’s a large multi-vend...

11/14/2024

Holiday Benevolence Market
An alternative holiday giving experience
Sunday, December 8
Noon-3 p.m.
Covenant Presbyterian Church • 1065 Gaines School Road

At the Holiday Benevolence Market you can meet representatives from 30 Athens non-profit organizations. From a shopping list of ‘symbolic gifts’ from these agencies, you can choose to donate something needed in the name of someone with whom you would ordinarily exchange gifts. Instead of that scarf or tie that will never be worn, give a gift that will promote hope, health and well-being.

This market is specifically designed to share the vision and work of the incredible non-profit organizations all over Athens doing amazing work and for teaching our children and grandchildren about how simple acts of generosity can make such a huge impact. You can choose many symbolic gifts and write a single check or make a single credit/debit card transaction. Come, join a community-wide effort to support great work in our city!

If you are unable to attend the Market in-person, you can also purchase your symbolic gifts online at this link through Dec. 31, 2024:

https://forms.gle/mNj14CPFVsHFQL3J6

Partnering Congregations:
First Presbyterian Church
First Baptist Church of Athens
St. Gregory the Great Episcopal Church
Oconee Presbyterian Church
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Athens
Milledge Avenue Baptist Church
Oconee Street United Methodist Church
Tuckston United Methodist Church
Holy Cross Lutheran Church
First Christian Church of Athens
Covenant Presbyterian Church
Interfaith Clergy Partnership of Greater Athens

For more information, please contact Rev. Amy Baer at abaer@covpresathens.org

12/05/2023

Good Morning, Athens Friends!

We just want to extend enormous thanks to all of you who helped to make the Holiday Benevolence Market 2023 such a truly lovely community gathering. We had a FULL house (I'll post pictures this week to this page!).

Families came with their children to learn about direct and meaningful giving. Non-profit staff members got to meet with each other and collaborate to better serve our community. Members of our whole faith community came to support. And, we had 30 Non-Profit Organizations present to share their stories of advocacy and service to
Athens' abandoned animals,
our environment,
our neighbors experiencing homelessness,
hunger,
diaper need,
the pain of addiction,
mental health crisis,
unfairly low wages,
illiteracy,
the struggles of developmental disabilities,
lack of adequate health care,
separation from their homelands,
domestic violence,
abuse,
and neglect.

Athens Friends, the Holiday Benevolence Market is not just a one-day event. I implore you to think of this event as the incarnation of something new...a renewal for our community and for our neighbors most in need. Coming together in this way is exactly how we can stand in the gap for our neighbors who suffer. In direct and meaningful ways this event brought us together to actively listen, to help when we can, and to commit to retelling the inspiring stories we have heard so that they are not forgotten.

Thank you to you all for your hearts for our most vulnerable neighbors. You have made and will continue to make a lasting and meaningful difference in our hurting world.

Please remember that the Holiday Benevolence Market 2023 continues online through the end of Dec. Please share this link on your socials and with anyone who missed Sunday's gathering and would like to join in supporting our local non-profit organizations:

Thank you so much for supporting our amazing Athens Nonprofit Organizations! Your gifts mean so much to our neighbors in need. We hope you are able to attend our in-person Holiday Benevolence Market! But, if you are unable to be there, please use this online donation form to purchase your symbolic g...

12/03/2023

Here is the Kids Shopping List for the Athens Annual Holiday Benevolence Market! Bring your children and grandchildren and meet reps from our local Non-Profit Organizations and teach them about simple gifts of generosity and what a meaningful and direct impact they can make!

12/01/2023

Holiday Benevolence Market 2023 Spotlight:
U-Lead Athens
www.uleadathens.org

✅ $20 Gas card for college visits
✅ $50 SAT and ACT study guides
✅ $100 College textbooks

Purchase these symbolic gifts online here:
https://forms.gle/L3FagMgwyyK1AUL58

12/01/2023

Holiday Benevolence Market 2023 Spotlight:
The Cottage (Sexual Assault Center and Children’s
Advocacy Center)
The Cottage Sexual Assault Center and Children's Advocacy Center
https://www.facebook.com/thecottagesaccac
www.northgeorgiacottage.org

✅ $10 Supplies used during a child’s therapy session
✅ $20 Snacks and food for clients
✅ $50 Adult Supervisor’s therapy session
✅ $100 One day of advocacy services for a child or adult

Purchase these symbolic gifts online here:
https://forms.gle/L3FagMgwyyK1AUL58

Offering free services to survivors of sexual violence & child abuse 24/7 hotline 877-363-1912

12/01/2023

Holiday Benevolence Market 2023 Spotlight:
The Ark United Ministry Outreach Center
www.athensark.org

✅ $10 Heaters for elderly neighbors
✅ $20 Gas vouchers, work boots, and emergency medication
✅ $100 Partial rent assistance to prevent a working family from homelessness

Purchase these symbolic gifts online here:
https://forms.gle/L3FagMgwyyK1AUL58

The Ark has provided targeted financial assistance to the low-income workers in Athens and surrounding counties for 30 years. And we do so much more...visit us to learn more!

12/01/2023

Holiday Benevolence Market 2023 Spotlight:
Strong Girls Serve
www.wearestronggirls.com

✅ $20 Snacks for one book club meeting
✅ $50 Semester sponsorship for one girl in the book club
✅ $100 Annual sponsorship for one girl in the book club

Purchase these symbolic gifts online here:
https://forms.gle/L3FagMgwyyK1AUL58

Our strong girls learn to embrace their unique qualities, strive to live healthily, and exude happiness in their everyday life. We are an after school club located in Athens GA for elementary and middle school girls.

12/01/2023

Holiday Benevolence Market 2023 Spotlight:
Project Safe Inc.
www.project-safe.org

✅ $15 Uber/Lyft for a survivor to get to work
✅ $75 Counseling for a child who has witnessed abuse
✅ $150 A night at a motel under an assumed name

Purchase these symbolic gifts online here:
https://forms.gle/L3FagMgwyyK1AUL58

12/01/2023

Holiday Benevolence Market 2023 Spotlight:
Partner for People and Place
www.peopleandplace.org

✅ $75 A goat and training so a woman can earn her own money
✅ $100 50 cashew trees and training to help a family earn income �
✅ $250 Help a family in Haiti transform 1/4 acre into a sustainable farm

Purchase these symbolic gifts online here:
https://forms.gle/L3FagMgwyyK1AUL58

Partner For People and Place, Inc. is U.S. nonprofit 501(c)3 humanitarian service provider supported by charitable donations from the public.

11/30/2023

Holiday Benevolence Market 2023 Spotlight:
Our Daily Bread ( Downtown Ministries )
downtownministries.org/our-daily-bread

✅ $15 Food for one guest for a week
✅ $60 Food for one guest for a month
✅ $300 Food for all guests for one day

Purchase these symbolic gifts online here:
https://forms.gle/L3FagMgwyyK1AUL58

Our Daily Bread Community Kitchen serves meals Monday through Friday for anyone in need. Annually, our program provides more than 75,000 nutritious meals with gracious hospitality to men, women and children in need and offers a gateway to other transformational services. Partnering with more than 70...