GIFT HOPE MGM | A new way to give this Christmas
Saturday, December 7 | 9 am – Noon | FUMC Montgomery
Gift Hope MGM will offer people in the River Region an opportunity to rethink the traditional Christmas gift, by giving them a better alternative – giving hope to someone in need. Gift Hope MGM, formerly the Alternative Gift Fair, exists to support area ministries and nonprofits by hosting an event that allows people to purchase a variety of “gifts” in honor or in memory of a friend or loved one. These gifts don’t end up under your tree, rather they end up helping dozens of organizations make a positive and tangible impact in lives all across the River Region.

By supporting Gift Hope MGM, you are helping to fund specific needs of the Capital Area Adult Literacy Council and other organizations – for example, books and educational materials for adults who struggle with reading, a week’s worth of hot meals for an elderly couple in need, or one night’s shelter for a homeless family. (Gifts will be available at a variety of prices, starting at $5.) The gift recipient will receive from the gift purchaser a card announcing the gift/gifts made in the recipient’s name and the name/names of the designated nonprofits.

Gift Hope is being sponsored by the Church & Society Work Area of the First United Methodist Church in Cloverdale Park.  Come to the event on December 7 and support us.  Online shopping will be available December 8 – December 15 at www.fumcmontgomery.org/gifthopemgm/.

AmazonSmile was created so donors can help fund your organization. When you shop, Amazon gives. Amazon will donate 0.5% of the proceeds of your purchases to the Capital Area Adult Literacy Council through Amazon Smile. There’s never been an easier way to give. Go to smile.amazon.com and pick the Capital Area Adult Literacy Council as your charity of choice. See below for more detailed instructions, and share with your friends and family! Every time you use smile.amazon.com, 0.5% of each eligible purchase goes directly to CAALC – no further action needed.

One of the goals of the Capital Area Adult Literacy Council is to help break the cycle of illiteracy. Almost one billion parents around the world are unable to read to their children. Wanda Stewart was one of these people, but now she has written a retelling of the classic tale of "Chicken Little" and called it "The Little Chicken Named Pong-Pong". This International Literacy Day, actor Idris Elba (recently in "The Dark Tower" and the upcoming film "The Mountain Between Us") has brought Wanda's story to life by contributing a forward to her book and filming a bedtime story reading.

Share Wanda's story by downloading a free copy of her book; for every book downloaded, the publishing company Pearson will donate $1 to adult literacy charities. Visit bit.ly/rewriting_lives to download "The Little Chicken Named Pong-Pong" and read more about #ProjectLiteracy and International Literacy Day 2017. A reading guide  for "The Little Chicken Named Pong-Pong" is also available for download there.

And you can watch Idris Elba read "The Little Chicken Named Pong-Pong" below. Share this story with all the mothers, fathers, and caregivers you know.

Here is Wanda's story. To read more about Wanda and other adult literacy students like her, visit http://www.projectliteracy.com/GiveYourWord and click on the student portraits.