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Donations could be perfect gift Some local residents see helping deserving causes as the best way to honor the Christmas season By Bill Kettler Can�t find the perfect Christmas gift for that person who has everything? How about a goat? Or a bundle of two-by-fours? Or a box of polio vaccine? A few folks have jumped off the Christmas-shopping bandwagon to help people in need. They send a check to charity in Aunt Martha�s name instead of sending her another sweater. Some give money to local service organizations; others support international aid organizations. Local charities needing help There�s no shortage of local organizations that would welcome support at Christmas. CERVS: This community agency provides emergency food boxes for needy families at Christmas as well as year-round support for homeless people and low-income seniors. Contributions may be mailed to 601 N. Grape St., Medford, OR 97501. ACCESS: Jackson County�s chief supplier of food for low-income households always needs support. Contributions may be mailed to: P.O. Box 4666, Medford, OR 97501. Rogue Valley Habitat for Humanity: The local chapter of this national organization builds houses for families that cannot qualify for bank loans. Send contributions to P.O. Box 688, Medford, OR 97501 Some international groups that have established a successful track record over the years include: Foundation for International Community Assistance: A "poor people�s bank" that makes loans to people in developing countries who need $50 to $500 to start a business but can�t qualify for a bank loan. Send contributions to FINCA, 1101 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C., 20005, or call 1-202-682-1510 for more information. Seva Foundation: Supports doctors who perform sight-saving surgeries for people in Nepal, Tibet, Guatemala and Mexico. Send donations to: 1786 Fifth St., Berkeley, Calif., 94710, or call 1-510- 845-7382. Heifer Project International: Buys sheep, goats and other livestock for people in developing countries. Twenty dollars buys a flock of chickens; $60 buys a trio of rabbits. Contributions as small as $10 buy a share of a pig, sheep or goat. Donations may be mailed to: P.O. Box 98715, Washington, D.C., 20090, or call 1-800- 422-0474. Doctors Without Borders: Sends physicians into war-torn regions around the world to provide medical care for refugees. Send donations to: 6 E. 39th St., New York, N.Y. 10016, Attn. Chrissa Baroga, or call 1-888- 392-0392. "We are so much more blessed in this part of the world than almost anywhere else," said Kristi Tanner of Medford. "At some point we really need to pay it back." Tanner and her sisters trade contributions to charities instead of presents. She sends money to groups they choose, and they send money to organizations she supports. "Even though we�re exchanging paper," she said, "there�s a symbolism (of giving). ... We honor each other�s spirit and interests." Tanner said people are beginning to realize they don�t have to give gifts to every relative when Christmas rolls around. "They�re learning that they can let go of the guilt of not buying gifts," she said. "Honoring that person (with some kind of a contribution) is probably more important than honoring them with bath oil, or a robe or a tie." As president of Rogue Valley Habitat for Humanity, Tanner has seen the generosity of others at Christmas. She was writing thank-you notes Monday to people who made holiday gifts to the affordable housing group. One woman who preferred to be anonymous gave more than $300 to Habitat this year in the name of family members. Some people prefer to support international development projects rather than add another gift-wrapped box to the towering Christmas pyramid. The Rev. Paul Robinson of Medford gave his family a goat this year for Christmas. His wife, Kathy Helmer, gave her family a sheep. They gave money to Heifer Project International, an international aid organization that provides healthy livestock to poor families in developing countries. The people use the sheep, goats and chickens to start their own flock and improve their standard of living. "We have struggled for years about how not to give presents to our families, who are trying to get rid of stuff," said Robinson, pastor of Medford�s Congregational United Church of Christ. "You shop and you shop and you shop and you find one more item they don�t need." Robinson said giving to people in need at Christmas "makes a whole lot of sense when you consider the amount of need and the amount of money that gets passed around at Christmastime. It�s a shame we can�t do better. "It doesn�t matter what income level you�re at," he said. "We all have more stuff than we need. ... What we need is to be doing more good instead of getting more goodies." "Receiving" a gift of charity requires a bit of adjustment at first, especially for children, said Ruth Coulthard of Ashland. Coulthard�s sister in California let her know the family�s Christmas present this year would be a goat from the Heifer Project. "It took me a while to explain it to the kids," she said. "I told them that my sister bought a goat for us for Christmas. "I thought it was great," said Coulthard, director of Peace House in Ashland. "It�s always an issue trying to get any meaningful gift for people who live far away from you. You don�t know what their needs are." Coulthard said she likes the gift goat because it shows that her sister took the time to think about her interests and found an organization that supports ideas she cares about. The goat may help the two families begin to change their Christmas giving habits, she said. "Someone has to break the ice for those changes in tradition." Reach reporter Bill Kettler at 776-4492, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.