Jenn Knepper knows a good idea when she sees one.

Sixteen years ago, Knepper read about a unique gift fair being staged in Harrisburg by a women's group. She reached out to the group, and after some thought, she came to the conclusion that the concept would be something that could benefit the Lancaster County community as well.

Fast forward to 2023 and the annual Gifts That Give Hope (GTGH) alternative gift fair is alive, well and thriving. The event is known for its ability to bring nonprofits together, its unique approach to gift giving and its propensity for fostering hope.

"We want people to think more about the things they buy and what goes into them," said Knepper. "The gift fair is a connection point for people to find out about people who are working to make the world a better place. I describe it as a live version of a gift catalog, except you walk into the event. We want people to learn more about the issues at people's hearts."

This season's GTGH gift fair will be presented on Sunday, Dec. 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Farm and Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster. Nearly 40 nonprofits and a dozen marketplace vendors are expected to be there.

Food trucks will be stationed outside to enhance the atmosphere.

"Have you ever seen someone who has no hope?" said Gustavo Valdez, president of Kairos Ministries Guatemala, one of the participating nonprofits. "That is a person who has no future, no way out. Hope is a way to tell people that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. With hope, there's a reason for tomorrow."

Perhaps the best ways to describe the gifts that will be available at GTGH's fair are environmentally friendly, ethically sourced and meaningful. There are tuitions, mentorship programs, books, therapeutic camps and charitable donations that can be purchased in someone's name.

It takes the concept of being more blessed to give than to receive to a whole other level.

"I've been blessed in so many ways. Giving helps me not forget where I'm coming from," said Luisa Tapia, founder of My Peruvian Treasures, one of the gift fair's marketplace vendors. "We almost have a duty to give. It's really connected to love. When I give, I always receive more in return. It's almost like planting seeds."

Over the years, GTGH's alternative gift fair has changed and evolved, with vendors, nonprofits and people coming and going, but the event has always stayed true to its mission by placing humans ahead of material goods.

"I want people to have a sense of hope and realize there's another way to do the holidays," said Knepper, a nurse by profession. "For me, it's refreshing when people do things a different way. I don't have to go with the rat race that the normal status quo of the holidays bring."

"I don't like the emphasis on materialism," she added. "The fair redefines giving. My parents have always been minimalists. I started giving them charitable contributions as gifts even before the fair began. When you give of yourself, you see a different side of people."

For more information about the Gifts That Give Hope gift fair, go to http://www.giftsthatgivehope.org.