With a slumping economy hitting pocketbooks across the nation, Christmas -- with its emphasis on "Black Friday" shopping sprees and long lists for Santa Claus -- has the potential to create tremendous stress for parents. In response, KidVenture has joined the Advent Conspiracy (adventconspiracy.org), a national movement to encourage people to spend less money on Christmas and re-invest resources on quality family time and meeting international crises like clean well water in Africa. "We're hoping to turn a corner as a community this Christmas," says John O'Hara, KidVenture's director. "and transform the stress of consumerism into a catalyst toward more meaningful relationships with each other and our global community."

The Fun Family Friday Make Something Party is a free event. Participants are asked to bring supplies to share for making gifts: craft materials, dry ingredients for cookies, books and CD's that deserve a second chance, etc. We will also be receiving a cash offering for the Africa Oasis Project (africaoasisproject.org).