Alternative Gifts

Alternative Gifts is a long-standing favorite Christmas tradition of our church. It serves as a tangible way to help us remember the true meaning of Christmas by following Jesus’s 2nd commandment “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39).

 

You are giving the gift of hope and honoring a loved one when participating in Alternative Gifts. Honor your loved ones with a donation to a mission that cares for our neighbors and brings home the meaning of Christmas!

Alternative Gifts starts the first Sunday of Advent (November 30, 2025) and continues through Epiphany (January 6, 2026). You may pick up our beautiful Alternative Gift Christmas cards, as well as information cards, from the table in the Narthex before and after Sunday services, in the Parlor or from the information station weekdays when the church is open. Look for the Alternative Gifts banner!

There are 9 different beautiful Christmas Cards. The face of the card contains a beautiful picture and an appropriate scripture quote. Inside, the card reads “A donation has been given in your honor to support the ministries of____” (the name of mission/ministry you are supporting) and “This gift of Love was given by_____” (your name). All you need to do is fill in the blanks.

There are also information cards on four mission/community partners, three missions that we routinely support, IFC (interfaith Council for Social Services), Habitat for Humanity, and ZOE Empowers, and one sponsored by the Health Team as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Forgive Medical Debt. Each of these information cards gives an overview of one of that organization. The purpose of the card is to provide the recipient you are honoring with some information on that mission/community partner. It fits in the envelope with the card.

Please take as many cards as you need. You just mail your cards or give them in person.

Generosity is not only making monetary donations. Volunteering here at church, at the IFC kitchen or market, preparing backpacks at TABLE, with ZOE Empowers, or on a Habitat build are all acts of generosity.

Giving is not at all limited to one of the missions/community partners for which there are information cards. In past years, folks donated to Wesley, The Methodist Home for Children, the music ministry, and many other internal and external ministries and missions.

For any ministry external to UUMC you may make your donation directly by going to their website or by writing them a check. Please put “University United Methodist” in the note section of their donation page or in the memo line on your check. We want to let them know we support their ministries.

If you donate through the church, please make your donations in increments of $10 because it will make bookkeeping easier. If you write a check, please make sure you specify the designation in the memo field.  There is no fee with checks or cash.

When donating through Realm, a credit card is buying $10 shares of an organization. To donate $50 you need to put 5 in the quantity line. As you begin to donate, for the field “Which family members will be attending?” check the box next to your name. As you complete your donation, you will come to a screen to review. After checking your details, be sure to click on the blue “REGISTER” button to complete the donation process. A confirmation email will be sent after you complete your donation. If you do not receive a confirmation email, your donation is not complete. Please email Betty Peterson call the church (919-922-7191) with any donation problems.  

 

There is a QR code on the sign that says “Give the gift of Hope”. To donate using the QR code, you will need your phone. The QR code will take you to Realm. A Realm account is not required to donate, but it is faster and easier if you already have a Realm account and a credit card on file.

Mail or take a check to IFC Commons

110 W. Main Street, Carrboro, NC  27510

 

Mail a check to Habitat for Humanity of Orange County

88 Vilcom Center Drive, Suite L110, Chapel Hill, NC 27514

 

Mail a check to Zoe Empowers, PO Box 28839, Raleigh, NC 27611