Pyle Middle School hosted the third annual Alternative Gift Fair Dec. 3, where students and parents could volunteer for or make donations to participating non-profit organizations.

Over 30 organizations set up booths around the Pyle cafeteria, with forms to fill out so people could easily make a holiday donation.

“The variety of booths is great, and a little surprising,” Pyle parent Allison Rosenfeld said. “There’s something for everyone.”

Some organizations chose a hands-on approach with their booths. Pet Connect Rescue, a non-profit organization that rescues dogs and cats from shelters and puts them up for adoption, had its volunteers walking several breeds of dogs around the cafeteria. As people pet the dogs, the volunteers explained their mission.

“We’re trying to put the dogs in a safer place,” volunteer Corelyn Debettencourc said. “People see the dogs walking around and they want to know more.”

Other organizations offered pamphlets, posters and stickers to raise awareness. The booth for A Wider Circle, a nonprofit that accepts gently used furniture for shelters and families in need, offered a lot of options for students to earn SSL hours.

“We love student volunteers,” A Wider Circle volunteer Lauren Snow said. “We look forward to this fair every year because we make ourselves available to younger people.”

Booths offered bowls of candy, homemade cupcakes and cookies, computer slideshows of pictures from their events and animals to interest visitors.

“This event is marvelous,” Liz Diamond, a National Foundation for Cancer Research volunteer said. “What makes us happy is being able to give to others, and that starts at a young age.”