Presents of presence. Judicious spending. Offerings of experiences and services.

Well-thought-out, alternative gifts.

Hope is a wonderful gift to both give and receive.

"Your money is your vote for the kind of world you want to live in," said Jenn Knepper, the coordinator of the gift fair and the founder of Gifts That Give Hope Lancaster. "At the gift fair, we focus on quality over quantity. There's a hashtag that says, 'Put your money where your heart is.' It's a good way to think about your spending habits, like giving gifts that have been repurposed. It's thinking creatively and outside of the box."

Gifts That Give Hope's upcoming gift fair is not your typical gift fair. This year's edition of the in-person portion of the annual hybrid shopping event will be conducted from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30, at Lancaster Farm and Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster.

The event is free to attend, and the proceeds from the sale of the meaningful gifts will go to the nonprofits represented at the fair.

"There's a palpable energy at the gift fair," said Knepper. "It's a positive, uplifting kind of vibe. I hate big crowds, but everyone is there for the common good. Everyone is coming there seeking opportunities to give contributions or to get involved. It's an opportunity to get plugged into the community."

Gifts That Give Hope's gift fair will feature items, merchandise and services offered by 35 nonprofit vendors and 20 marketplace vendors.

The nonprofits typically offer services that can also serve as charitable contributions, like music lessons, medical care, mentoring and training. At the marketplace, the vendors usually sell more tangible merchandise like soaps, jewelry and repurposed clothing.

Adding to the festive mood will be live music and food trucks.

"Everything there goes back to a socially conscious effort," said Knepper. "I think we all feel a sense that the world feels so heavy. I think the people at the fair are trying to do their best to make the world a better place."

"Every nonprofit has a story," continued Knepper. "I think everybody right now is looking for ways to connect with these types of efforts. A small group can change the world. We all can chip away in our spheres of influence to make impacts in areas."

As many as 1,500 individuals from Lancaster County and beyond are expected to attend the gift fair. Gifts That Give Hope officials are hoping to raise $35,000 for the participating nonprofits.

The gift fair also offers online shopping opportunities, which can be viewed at https://giftsthatgivehopelancaster.org.

"We keep tabs on all the contributions to the various nonprofits," said Knepper. "When all is said and done, our accountants tabulate everything and write a check to each of those nonprofits. It's whatever the customers purchase from each nonprofit. It's up to the nonprofits to promote their items. It's usually things people can identify with that tend to do well."

"You want the people who come to the fair to feel like it's worth their time," she added. "Receiving gifts is one of the five love languages, and some people love giving gifts. I think giving a good gift is knowing what's important to people. I don't think we need more stuff. It's about thinking about the recipient. I try to give gifts from what I know about the person."

There's also a social aspect associated with the gift fair. It can allow attendees to share experiences and get involved, and it can provide nonprofits with opportunities to collaborate and share resources.

"What the nonprofits have told me is that it's not about the donations; it's about the connections," said Knepper. "A lot of nonprofits meet people who are doing similar work and start sharing resources. That's a benefit that you're not able to quantify."

Gifts That Give Hope was established in 2008 when Knepper found out about a similar initiative spearheaded by a group of women in Harrisburg. She could find no reasons that the concept wouldn't fly in generous Lancaster County.

Since its inception, the gift fair has generated a total of over $500,000 for nonprofits.

"I'd love for people who have never been to the fair to feel intrigued," said Knepper. "I always challenge the status quo, like, 'let's do it differently.' I want the gift fair to feel appealing to a wide variety of people. I want to pique their interest."