Double the giving

When you buy gifts, you’re not just giving something to the person you’re buying for; you’re also giving to the organization you’re buying from. Why donate your money to impersonal chain stores when you can buy truly unique gifts at local charity fund-raisers? For the same holiday-shopping budget, you can support local craftspeople, donate to charity and bring your loved ones something special.

The Ben Ali Shriners’ Ladies Holiday Bazaar offers crafts, holiday decorations, fruits, nuts, jams, jellies and baked goods for the season. All proceeds are used to provide transportation to kids traveling to and from the Northern California Shriners Hospital for Children. The sale lasts from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is free at the DoubleTree Hotel, located at 2001 Point West Way. Call (916) 920-4107 for more information.

Sort through used clothing, housewares and collectibles at the Jingle Bell Jumble Sale to benefit the Friends of the Colonial Heights Library. Admission is free from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturday at the Colonial Heights Library, located at 4799 Stockton Boulevard. Call (916) 876-7413 for further details.

The Sacramento Turn Verein’s sixth annual Christkindlmarkt is the place to shop for arts, crafts, ornaments and baked goods in a traditional German setting. Nuremberg sausage dinners and hot, spiced glühwein will be available. Admission is $2, with proceeds to benefit News10’s Coats for Kids and the Sierra Regional Ski for Light program. Family admission is free with the donation of a child’s sweater or coat. Christkindlmarkt happens Saturday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. at 3349 J Street. Call (916) 362-2607 for more information.