Make a difference in someone’s life this Christmas. 
 
The First Presbyterian Church of Wellsboro is encouraging support for 13 charitable organizations by holding the Alternative Giving Christmas Fair online for the public now through Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024 and in person on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Fellowship Hall at 130 Main Street during Wellsboro’s Dickens of a Christmas.
 
The 13 charitable organizations are: Child Evangelism Fellowship of Tioga County, Diapers for Darlings, Harbor Counseling, Heart of Tioga, His Thousand Hills Christian Camp & Retreat Center, Humble Bumble Project, Medical Benevolence Foundation, Planted, Wellsboro Area Salvation Army, Samaritan House, Seeds of Hope Partners, Tioga County Homeless Initiative, and Wellsboro Area Food Pantry. 

 
The fair is for those who have people on their Christmas lists who love a particular cause and for others that believe Christmas is too commercial.
 
Available online is a form titled First Presbyterian Church Wellsboro Alternative Giving Christmas Fair. It includes the names of the participating charitable organizations and a brief description about each one’s mission and purpose. At the online site – https://fpcwellsboro.breezechms.com/form/c4bc693517 – those who want to donate to one or more of these charities can complete the form and make a contribution with a credit card. Or, they can print off the form, complete and return it in person to the church office with a check made payable to the First Presbyterian Church between 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays or mail it to the church at 130 Main Street, Wellsboro, PA 16901.
 
On Saturday, Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Fellowship Hall, each charitable organization will have a table with pictures, brochures, posters and other materials that explain their mission and goals and have people available to answer questions.  They will also have a “price list” of items to “purchase.” There will be music and refreshments during the fair. 
 
As shoppers arrive, they will be given a list of the participating charities. After compiling his or her list of gifts, each shopper will go to a single checkout point and write one check payable to the First Presbyterian Church. Following the fair, the church will write checks to the supported charities in the full amount of donations made.
 
All online and in person contributions are being collected at the First Presbyterian Church with 100 percent of the funds to be distributed on or before Sunday, Dec. 29 to the charities designated by the donors. 
 
For more information, call the church office between 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays at 570-724-3431