BY LISA BALSCHUNAT
Eleven small agencies in the Glens Falls
area are offering holiday shoppers a local opportunity
to purchase impactful gifts for their
coworkers, friends, and loved ones on Dec. 5
and 6 by shopping at Gift Back, an alternative
gift fair, set to run for 15 hours in the Community
Room of Crandall Public Library, 251
Glen St., Glens Falls.
Shoppers are invited to purchase a gift in
the form of a donation to one of 11 nonprofit
organizations in the area that rely primarily on
donations and private funding to make available
social services needed in the community.
“People are familiar with purchasing a gift
in honor of someone for large organizations
like Heifer International, the American Heart
Association and PBS,” said Gift Back coordinator
Dr. Kathleen Braico.
The local program works in a similar way.
People can make a donation of $20 to Big
Brothers Big Sisters of the Southern Adirondacks,
for example, to provide art supplies
for 15 children, or a $40 donation to sponsor
a mentoring event in Glens Falls, Queensbury,
Hudson Falls, South Glens Falls, Argyle or
Fort Ann.
Shoppers receive a gift card for their loved
ones, co-workers or friends they are purchasing
alternative gifts in the name of.
“The Glens Falls Gift Back is all about
making a difference in our hometown,” Braico
said. “This alternative gift fair will give our
neighbors, friends and colleagues a chance to
surprise someone with a meaningful gift that
will assist people who live in our community
and even across the globe, with services that
will improve their lives for the better.”
“Multiple purchases to one or more of the
11 agencies can be made at one time,” said
Patti Gray Whann, publicity co-chairperson
for Gift Back. She said it offers one-stop
shopping for people who are looking for an
alternative to a material gift.
Gift Back will be open Friday, Dec. 5 from
9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 6, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Shoppers can purchase alternative gifts,
complete with a holiday wrapped and bowed
card that can benefit one or more of these 11
organizations: Amorak Youth, Adirondack Samaritan
Counseling Center, Amanda’s House,
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Southern
Adirondacks, Crandall Library, Glens Falls
Medical Mission, Family Services Association,
Literacy of New York Greater Capital Region,
WAIT House, Warren Washington CARE Center
and World Awareness Childrens’ Museum.
Gift Back is sponsored and supported by
Black Dog Designs, 8 Pines PR and Marketing,
Glens Falls Area Realty, the Glens Falls
Collaborative, Glens Falls National Bank,
Mahoney Security Systems and Crandall
Excavation.
Photo by Lisa Balschunat