What is Alternative Gifts?
Alternative Gifts is a charitable, nontraditional way of giving. Donors make a financial contribution to an organization or a cause in honor of someone instead of buying a traditional gift. This gift not only honors your loved one, but it’s a meaningful gift that will help someone in need. This Christmas, give the gift of hope by making a donation to one of University UMC’s community partners in honor of a loved one. Alternative Gifts is a cherished church tradition that offers a meaningful way to celebrate the season. Simply choose one or more ministries that reflect your faith or what your recipient values. It is a beautiful, tangible way to remember the true meaning of Christmas and live out Jesus’s call to “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39).
Why participate?
This year, giving the gift of hope is more critical than ever. As inflation and cuts to government assistance strain our communities, current policies continue to disproportionately hurt the marginalized and the most susceptible. Alternative Gifts offers a meaningful way for us to help make a difference in our community.
When and where?
Alternative Gifts starts Sunday, November 22, 2026 and continues through Epiphany (January 6, 2027). You may pick up our beautiful Alternative Gifts Christmas cards, as well as information cards in the Parlor or from the information station weekdays when the church is open. Look for the Alternative Gifts banner!
How to participate?
- There are information cards on our mission/community partners – IFC (Interfaith Council for Social Services), TABLE, Habitat for Humanity, ZOE Empowers, Communiversity, and Undue Medical Debt (formerly RIP Medical Debt) – in the Parlor or at the information station. The purpose of the card is to help you choose an organization and to provide the recipient you are honoring with some information on that mission/community partner. Please take as many cards as you need. You just mail your cards or give them in person!
- There are nine different Christmas cards from which to choose. Inside, each 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 enclose the information card fill in the blanks!
- Participation not only includes financial gifts. Volunteering here at church or at IFC, TABLE, ZOE Empowers, Habitat, or Communiversity are all acts of generosity.
Making monetary donations:
- Giving is not at all limited to the missions/community partners for which there are information cards. In past years, folks donated to Wesley, The Methodist Home for Children, music ministry, and many other internal and external ministries and missions.
- For any ministry external to University UMC, 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. If you write a check, please make sure you specify the designation in the memo line. There is no processing fee with checks or cash.
- When donating through Realm, you are buying $10 shares of an organization. For example, 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, please email ">Betty Peterson or call the church (919-929-7191).
- There is a QR code on the flyer that says, “Give the gift of hope.” Scan the QR code with your phone to donate.
To donate directly to one of the partner organizations:
IFC
Mail or deliver a check to IFC Commons
110 W. Main Street
Carrboro, NC 27510
Habitat for Humanity of Orange County
Mail a check to Habitat for Humanity of Orange County
88 Vilcom Center Drive, Suite L110 Chapel Hill, NC 27514
TABLE
311 E. Main Street
Carrboro, NC 27510
ZOE Empowers
Mail a check to Zoe Empowers
PO Box 28839
Raleigh, NC 27611
Communiversity
Undue Medical Debt (formerly RIP Medical Debt)
Mail a check to:
Undue Medical Debt,
P. O. Box 411675
Boston, MA 02241-1675