How do you gift wrap a rooster? The obvious answer might be, “Very carefully.” But if you give one through ELCA GOOD GIFTS, the answer becomes, “You don’t!” North Carolina’s Women of the ELCA chose GOOD GIFTS as the purpose for offerings from Fall Gatherings this year.

When women from all over North Carolina met in October for their Fall Conference Gatherings, the offerings were headed for GOOD GIFTS.

“Our offerings always support a great cause, especially ones that benefit women and children here in our state,” said Terri Brown, president of NC Women of the ELCA. “This year we chose ELCA GOOD GIFTS. We wanted to support women and children around the world, and to support the ELCA ministries. It’s in our purpose statement: we support and affirm women in our society and the world.”

Good Gifts support the ministries of the ELCA in nearly 80 countries around the world. They can include baby chicks, blankets, and school supplies for $10 all the way to $2500 for a semester of seminary, a bundle that provides a community resources like bees, goats, seeds and tools for around $1000. Donors can focus on areas of interest for their gifts.

With a little over $2200 in Fall Gathering funds to spend, the board of NC Women of the ELCA focused on women and children. Selections included microloans, safe birth resources, vaccines for two children, two fully stocked medical clinics, field school for two women, a cook stove, nutrition for a child for a year, school supplies for 23 children, and a rooster.

Said Brown, “We tried to make the most of the money our ladies contributed for this cause, and we looked for gifts that could make a real di????erence. We were happy to see microloans for women to support small businesses, and the medical clinics, which will benefit entire communities. We were surprised by the range of gifts available and the price range. And we were thankful that our conferences were so generous. We think GOOD GIFTS is a great program!”