The Love Alliance Newsletter #30 - December 2, 2009 

As 2009 quickly comes to a close we eagerly plan for 2010.  Join us inmaking the most out of this last month in 2009.

LAST MONTH - HAPPENINGS

We were able to attend two great events in Florida this past month. The first was Way fest in West Palm Beach, FL.  This was our second year at the one-day festival and the response was overwhelming.  Our booth was non-stop busy the entire day and we were able to have some great conversations with people about what we do and the social justice issues that we represent. Thank you to Gerald Delvaille for giving up his day and helping run the booth along side David.

The second event in November was the Alternative Christmas Market that was held in our hometown of Palm Bay, FL, at Our Lady of Grace Parish. This was the event's first year, but the room was packed with local and international organizations that work with social justice.  Local fruits and vegetables were available; fair-trade coffee and chocolate; different foods and arts and crafts from around the world; and much more.  We were honored to be a part of the event and are happy that we were able to connect with our local community in a new way.  Thank you to Marion and Bonnie Ranzino and Evan Nichols for helping running the booth on both days.

This past month we were able to meet with Sean Carasso, the founder of the organization Falling Whistles.  We have been connected to this organization since their beginning through a friend, David Lewis. Falling Whistles is a campaign for peace in Congo.  You can read the story that started it all on their website at www.fallingwhistles.com.  You can also buy a whistle to wear as your protest and be a whistle blower for peace.  Proceeds go to rehabilitate and advocate for war-affected children in the Congo.  We are excited about what they are doing and the possibility of partnering together to make a difference.

LAST MONTH - ACTION PROJECT

Last month's Action Project was centered around the holiday of Thanksgiving. We encouraged you to pick up extra items while you shopped for Thanksgiving and to donate them to a local place providing Thanksgiving meals for less fortunate families.  We had a great response to the project, as it was an easy way that we could make a difference in our own communities.

We also partnered with the New York Dream Center to provide families with an entire Thanksgiving meal on Thanksgiving day.  NYDC was able to provide more than 200 full meals to over 200 different families in need within the New York City area.  We are proud to partner with the New York Dream Center and hope to work closely with them in the future.

THIS MONTH - HAPPENINGS

In 2008, The Love Alliance distributed 50,000 educational flyers on different social justice issues; most of you know these as our “Remember” cards.  At the beginning of 2009 we set a goal to distribute 100,000 of these cards this year.  Through our groups, events and touring we have been able to distribute the majority of those f lyers already.  Within the last couple of days, we posted a blog and posted on our social networks, asking for help in distributing the remainder card.  We were blown away by the response and received enough orders for flyers to exceed the 100,000 for this year.  We will be sending out these flyers in the coming weeks.  This is a huge accomplishment for the organization and it could not have been done without all of you.  Thank you all so much.

We are planning for the coming year and want to hear from you! How can we help you be more effective in making a difference towards social injustice in 2010?  What kinds of resources would you like to receive from The Love Alliance in the new year? We are here to help you make a lasting difference.

Send us any photos or stories you may have of how you have made a difference towards social justice this year. We would love to brag on how proud we are of each and every person in The Love Alliance community on our website.   Email us at: info@thelovealliance.net.

We are so thankful for all of your support this year.  As a thank you, we would like to offer everyone a 10% off discount code in our webstore.  Just type: THANKS in the discount code field at the checkout.  Click here to visit our store now.

THIS MONTH - ACTION PROJECT

This holiday season we are remembering the environment by having a "Recycled Holiday." The holidays can often be a time for excessive consumerism. Buying things just to buy them. Instead this year our Action Project is to give vintage or homemade. Instead of placing a demand on new products we can reuse or repurpose previously used products. Purchase items from estate sales, and antique, vintage or thrift stores. You can give them as is or you can revamp/repurpose the items. Not only will this likely help your wallet, but it will also be a much more meaningful gift to the person receiving it. You will also be reducing waste and energy as old products will be saved from landfills and new products will not need to be produced. Here are some fun gift ideas, do them yourself or hold a recycling gift party to make them with friends:

- Get a wide array of items locally from furniture, electronics, sporting goods to clothing on freecycle.com
- Decorate a box or tin and give baked goods
- Give an old bag decorative stitching to make it one of a kind
- Find beautiful vintage jewelry online or at local estate sales and antique/vintage stores
- Make bowls or mail holders from old records (click here)
- Repaint used furniture to make it one of a kind 
- Make new things out of old magazines (click here) 
- Give a  unique jewelry organizer (click here) 
- Make something out of old blue jeans (click here) 
- Give a gift in someone's name to help people in third world countries live self sustainably (click here) 
- Wrap old wire hangers in yarn with bows to give beautiful custom padded hangers (click here) 
- Make plastic bag yarn and knit or crochet recycled goodies (click here)

These are just a few ideas to get the wheels turning in your heads. We are asking you to get more involved by posting on our site any other recycled holiday gift ideas you may have along with links to how people can achieve these ideas if available. You can do so here.

If you are still wanting to purchase new items for the holidays we encourage you to only purchase socially conscious items.  Buy fair trade, sweat shop free, items made from recycled products etc.

We also encourage everyone to take part in this year's Advent Conspiracy. Click here to learn more and to view this year's video.