Alternative Gifts Fair

08/12/2026

Karen is a key part of our AGF team checking in vendors; providing snacks for our volunteers; and running the Goodies by Jodi booth! Thank you Karen for all you do!

✨ Volunteer Spotlight: Karen Stiles ✨

Karen has a long history of serving in our church! She currently volunteers as a receptionist and is a Stephen Minister. She donates a wonderful catered meal for bidding at the Alternative Gifts Fair. Her most recent role is driving the church bus for our friends at Denton Village on Sunday mornings. What hasn’t Karen done! Thank you for all you do!

At FUMC Denton, our volunteers are the heart of our church and the hands and feet of Christ in action. Nominate someone for the Volunteer Spotlight today and help us celebrate the people who make ministry possible: https://fumcdenton.wufoo.com/forms/volunteer-spotlight-submission-form

12/10/2025

We are honored to help make a difference in our community. Thank you to all the volunteers and board members of the Friends of Shiloh Gardens!

On Saturday we were presented with a check from First United Methodist Church Denton 's Alternative Gifts Fair. THANK YOU to everyone who participated in helping us raise $14,000 for our important work!❤️

11/15/2025

Thank you North Texas Daily for visiting us and sharing our story. Thank you to all the shoppers and matching grant sponsors for showing up for our community!

ARTS & LIFE: ‘Shopping once and giving twice’: 38th annual Alternative Gifts Fair raises thousands for organizations

In the gym of Denton’s First United Methodist Church, dozens of people shopped from over 35 businesses and nonprofit organizations selling items like jewelry, clothing, ceramics and food Nov. 7-9.

All of these vendors were part of the Alternative Gifts Fair, an annual event organized by FUMC that raises money for each organization's mission. Karen Anderson-Lain, a university communications studies principal lecturer, has been a member of the Alternative Gifts Fair Committee for nine years. Anderson-Lain said she fell in love with the fair's purpose and how it supports so many impactful organizations.

“They get to tell their story, we get to support the work they do and it’s a way our church can give back our time and help those organizations,” Anderson-Lain said. “We can’t write an $80,000 check, but we raised over $80,000 last year.”

📝: Sophia Carbajal
📸: Dilip Devanda

Read more: https://buff.ly/slDPgQf

11/11/2025

AGF 2025 raised over $92,000 for our non-profit & fair trade partners!
Thank you to our matching grant sponsors and shoppers!

11/09/2025

Thank you Denton for showing up and giving generously!

11/09/2025

Congratulations Interfaith Ministry on meeting your matching grants from Drs. McGuire, Simms, and McKinney and Thomas and Linda Haster.

11/09/2025

Congratulations Red Bird Mission on making your matching grants from the Engelbrecht Family.

11/09/2025

FUMC Denton Youth achieved an incredible milestone by meeting their matching grant! A huge thank you to Lizzy Johnson and Kloe Kloiber for their dedication and support.

11/08/2025

Chic & Gold made their matching grant goal! Their grant was sponsored by Golhke Pools.

11/08/2025

Denton Community Food Center is selling lots of sweet treats and hit their matching grant goal! Thanks to the Vision/Weavers Sunday School class at First United Methodist Church Denton for sponsoring their grant.