One of the things that make Gifts That Give Hope so special is that it thrives in the no-judgment zone. The local nonprofit is currently gearing up for this year's foray into the world of alternative gift giving.

"We try to promote more charitable giving," said Jenn Knepper, the founder of Gifts That Give Hope Lancaster. "I started to think about giving more meaningful gifts to my parents, things like promoting women's education around the world. I felt like that was something my parents encouraged for me. I think it's a chance to be creative, like what are the causes that are important to people?"

Gifts That Give Hope Lancaster's upcoming gift festival de-emphasizes material items and emphasizes experiences, altruism and charitable causes. This year's 19th edition of the unique gift fair will be conducted from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10, at Farm and Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster.

The event is free to attend, and all proceeds will benefit the participating nonprofits.

"I'm always trying to make things run more smoothly," said Knepper. "We change things based on feedback. Each year we're just always trying to improve on how we reach people and engage with them. We're connected with different nonprofits, and we try to promote the things that the nonprofits are doing. We all benefit when we're connected to the community. We try to be a conduit of that."

Gifts That Give Hope Lancaster's gift fair will feature the work, missions and services provided by 35 nonprofits and 20 marketplace vendors. There will also be six food trucks, live music and book readings.

"It's an opportunity to catch up with a friend. It's great for all ages," said Knepper, a nurse who resides in East Hempfield Township. "You have to make choices easy for people. I think most people want to be conscientious gift givers or shoppers in general. The gift fair is a one-stop shop for gifts that make a difference. We've kind of done the screening to make it easy."

Among the items available for purchase are charitable donations in a loved one's name, instructional lessons for underprivileged individuals and gifts made from repurposed materials.

"There's a wide range of items you can find there," said Knepper. "I think because the world feels so overwhelming, giving gifts like that can feel like tangible steps in the right direction. The gift fair has a very altruistic, collaborative, community type of environment. It always lifts my spirits. One of my strengths is building connections, and the gift fair is the epitome of that. Nobody wants to reinvent wheels, and the gift fair helps build bridges."

More than 1,500 people are expected to attend Gifts That Give Hope Lancaster's fair. In the past, the event has raised as much as $30,000 collectively for the participating nonprofits.

"I think they're people who are conscientious about how they live their lives," said Knepper. "They like to help other people. They're people with a wide range of interests. I think the gift fair inspires a lot of different people."

The gift fair is the only event that Gifts That Give Hope Lancaster sponsors throughout the year.

"I really do love seeing people come together and make connections," said Knepper. "I really love all the behind-the-scenes work throughout the year. It brings me a lot of joy. The gift fair lifts my spirits when I see all these people trying to help."

For additional information, go to http://www.giftsthatgivehopelancaster.org.