6 // COASTWEEKEND.COM
Celebrate the season of giving
with Gifts That Make a Difference
ASTORIA — Donating to
or purchasing from a local
nonprofit is a gift that makes
a difference for the commu-
nity. Donating in the name
of someone else is an extra
special gift, one that touches
the heart of the person
honored as well as the lives
of friends, family, neighbors
and strangers on the coast.
From noon to 4 p.m. Sat-
urday, Dec. 10 at the Liberty
Theatre, volunteers from
30 nonprofits from Cannon
Beach to Long Beach will
exhibit information at Gifts
That Make a Difference
— information on animal
rescue and care, art and
music and theater, reading
and advocacy programs for
kids, community emergency
services, healthy local food,
meals and shelter for women
and the homeless, higher ed-
ucation, timebanking, com-
munity radio, hospice, and
the coast’s scenic, cultural
and historic landmarks.
Donors make contribu-
tions to individual nonprofits
at their tables or contrib-
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Nancy Magathan and Barbara Crass of Lower Columbia Hos-
pice visit a Northern saw-whet owl from the Wildlife Center of
the North Coast at Gifts That Make a Difference.
ute to multiple groups at
checkout, using cash, credit
or debit, or check. CASA,
Wildlife Center of the North
Coast, and the Astoria
Warming Center will also
accept “in-kind” donations.
(See sidebar.)
For the strictly tangi-
ble-minded, groups offer
ornaments, performance
“A Holiday Celebration”
Portland Gay Men’s Chorus
Sunday
December 18
3pm
Astoria High School
1001 W. Marine Drive
Tickets at the door:
$15
Proceeds Benefi t
Clatsop Community College
Performing Arts Center
For more information:
www.NorthCoastChorale.org
tickets, books, T-shirts and
other items related to their
work.
Gifts That Make a Dif-
ference began in 2006, part
of a growing trend toward
holiday shopping that’s local
and stress-free. While many
alternative fairs throughout
the U.S. feature local crafts,
others focus on projects for
WISH LISTS
Astoria Warming Center: New men’s underwear,
warm jackets, rain gear.
CASA: Children’s books in new or very good condi-
tion, particularly those with firm covers.
Wildlife Center of the North Coast: Costco or
Home Depot gift cards, Costco-brand Nitrile exam
gloves (size medium), Clorox bleach and disinfecting
wipes, Simple Green concentrate, garbage bags,
concentrated laundry detergent, heavy duty scrub-
bing sponges and scouring pads, first class stamps.
poor countries. Founder Car-
en Black wanted an event to
benefit the local community.
“I wasn’t sure how many
nonprofits there were here.
When I began looking them
up, I was astounded to find
over a hundred,” she says.
“These organizations are
supporting our local commu-
nities every day of the year.
What better way to refocus
our holiday experience
around local, meaningful giv-
ing than to support them?”
All proceeds raised at
Gifts That Make a Differ-
ence go directly into local
community programs. But,
Black says groups par-
ticipate as much for the
networking opportunities as
the funds raised.
“Everyone gets to talk
with donors directly, unlike
an envelope in the mail. And
volunteers get to exchange
information and ideas with
their peers in other organi-
zations,” Black says. “It’s a
beautiful holiday party that
benefits everyone.”
One of those groups
is Clatsop CASA (Court
Appointed Special Advo-
cates), which trains com-
munity volunteers to stand
up for abused and neglected
children. CASA’s advocacy
helps ensure that these chil-
dren have the best possible
chance for a safer, more
secure home life. CASA has
participated since Gifts That
Make a Difference’s incep-
tion in 2006.
Executive Director Julia
Mabry says, “This event is
unique. It truly embodies
the spirit of giving that is
so often lost in the holiday
season. Where else can you
shop for gifts that build a
better community?”
Georgina Jones, direc-
tor of The Healing Circle /
Victory Over Child Abuse
camps, leads another non-
profit that has participated
every year because, “Gifts
that make a difference is a
great way for the communi-
ty to see our nonprofit and
others as a way to give dif-
ferently. It allows us to talk
to people who may not have
known about our program
prior. Most importantly it
allows one to donate in honor
of someone and have that
money be utilized for healing
of children in our community
— now, that’s a gift.”
Adopt an owl for some-
one? Wildlife Center of the
North Coast founder Shar-
nelle Fee began bringing
one of the smallest of their
rescued wildlife to the fair
in its first year and then-ap-
prentice Josh Saranpaa soon
took over this duty. Now
the director, Saranpaa notes,
“I really like the gifts fair
because of the collaboration
and partnership with other
nonprofits, and it’s a great
opportunity to connect with
people in our community.”
That is, if he can tear the
people away from the owl
accompanying him.
Admission is free. Enter
through the Liberty The-
atre’s main lobby on Com-
mercial Street. There are
complimentary refreshments
and local musicians includ-
ing Larkin Stentz on flute
and hammered dulcimer,
members of Swing Cats of
Astoria, and a surprise visit
from a choir of carolers, and
of course Santa and Mrs.
Claus. Special guests Luke
Ydstie and Kati Claborn
of Blind Pilot will perform
from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Guests who make dona-
tions will enter drawings
for free gifts from sponsors:
Columbia River Coffee,
dinners at the Uptown Café,
and a basket of seafood
from Bornstein Seafood.
Donors giving $100 or more
could win a spa getaway
at Cannery Pier Hotel or
a handmade quilt by local
artist Laurie Caplan. Other
business sponsors include
Blue Scorcher Bakery Café,
Columbia Bank, Englund
Marine and Thrivent Finan-
cial. Refreshments will be
provided by Astoria Cof-
feehouse & Bistro, Baked
Alaska, Bridgewater Bistro,
and 3 Cups Coffee House.
Three community non-
profits serve as organizing
hosts — Lower Columbia
TimeBank, Liberty Theatre
and United Way Clatsop
County — and more than
two dozen volunteers work
together to bring the event to
the coast. For more informa-
tion, visit www.GiftsThat-
MakeaDifference or call
503-325-6886.