ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS FAIR

SHOW-CASING ALL MISSION PROJECTS

Celebrate our annual Joy of Giving event, the Alternative Christmas Fair! The MBCC Alternative Christmas Fair provides an opportunity for giving to local, regional, and international mission projects. The Alternative Christmas Fair is normally held annually in early December on the patio immediately after the Sunday worship service, but this year, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we invite you to make your gift on-line instead.

Our Charities

We hope your family will join us in making Christmas special for those less fortunate once again this year. Please consider donating to one or more of the following five charities:

1736 Family Crisis Center

The 1736 Family Crisis Center responds to the growing needs of victims of domestic violence, runaway and homeless youth, victims of human trafficking, homeless families, homeless and at-risk veterans, unemployed adults and youth, and other low-income community members in need of assistance. They provide comprehensive rehabilitative programs that are managed by licensed therapists, social workers, attorneys and other professional staff. Men, women, children, and families can access life-saving support 24 hours a day through shelters, community service centers, community-based offices, and crisis and suicide hotlines. Please give to the 1736 Family Crisis Center. Learn more at http://www.1736familycrisiscenter.org.

Project NEEDS

A South Bay Hunger Ministry
Project NEEDS has been a long-standing hunger ministry of a number of South Bay churches, including Manhattan Beach Community Church. Hosted by St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Redondo Beach, PROJECT NEEDS provides an average of 300 hot meals a month to local homeless and low-income families. The Project NEEDS Food Pantry also provides groceries, baby supplies, hygiene items, clothing, and school supplies to an average of 260 low-income families every month. MBCC has actively participated in this ministry for many years. Learn more at https://stpaulsrb.org/project-needs/

Family Promise

Of the South Bay
An estimated 3,000 children in the South Bay are homeless, with one in four homeless people being a child. Family Promise is a community-based approach, engaging both the local community and houses of faith, offering a lasting solution to homeless families with children.  Families in the program receive a full complement of resources, support, and training as they work towards their own stability and self-reliance, with 100% of graduate families permanently housed.  MBCC has over 30 trained volunteers, joining dozens of local congregations, in support of this ministry. Learn more at : https://www.familypromiseosb.org.

Child Aid Guatemala

Guatemala has the lowest literacy rate and the one of the highest poverty rates in Latin America. Additionally, over half of its children in rural indigenous families are undernourished. Supporting Child Aid Guatemala, a non-profit organization, provides you an opportunity to assist children enrolled in a preschool focused on learning and literacy as preparation for further schooling. Your giving will support Cedin, a locally run, private preschool, in the small rural town of El Tejar. The school is a four-year, early-start program based on Montessori principles and serves 115 children 3-6 years of age, for four hours per day.  Through Child Aid’s support, children received nutritious meals, music lessons, and computer training, as well as scholarships for the neediest children. The school ensures that every child who leaves the school knows how to read. Schooling has been online since March, during the pandemic, so these photos were taken at home. Learn more at https://www.funditguatemala.org/

Global Ministries CSEI

Center for Social Equity and Inclusion India
The Center for Social Equity and Inclusion (CSEI) exists to deepen democracy and to develop a robust, inclusive society in India by enhancing the involvement of communities that are excluded. CSEI was formed in 2009, growing out of three decades of volunteers working on rights-based development with a focus on community organizing, networking, research, and forming campaigns. Today, working with young people from socially excluded communities has emerged as a priority for CSEI in their work toward a just and inclusive society in India. Over half of India’s 356 million 10-24-year-olds belong to the Dalit, Tribal, Muslim, or other marginalized communities who face specific disadvantages for their personal development, as well as for their participation in the wider society. CSEI empowers community-led organizations (CLOs) in such communities, located in the six states of Bihar, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Chattisgarh. Through programming for young people, CSEI works to provide personal leadership and life-skills development as well as to develop community engagement.  (Learn more at https://www.globalministries.org/social_equity_and_inclusion_for_youth_in_india.)

Give

To make a gift, click the link below to go to “Giving” webpage and then press “Give Now”. This takes you to the “Online Donation” webpage. There, on the “Alternative Christmas Fair” line, enter the dollar amount and the name of the charity you are donating to. Execute this donation by pressing the “Continue” button at the bottom of the page. You will then have the opportunity to make your contribution using a debit card, credit card, or eCheck. If you are donating to more than one charity, you must repeat this process for each charity. (Donate to one charity at a time.) Alternatively, you can mail or drop off a check at the office.