Kirkland Interfaith Network (KIN) will honor Mayor James Lauinger with a lifetime membership in KIN at the Alternative Giving Fair on Nov. 14. Lauinger has been a longtime friend of KIN and the people it serves, and received the KINfolk Award in 1995. KIN is an affiliation of seven Kirkland churches: Holy Family Catholic, Holy Spirit Lutheran, Kirkland Congregational, Lake Washington Christian, Lake Washington United Methodist, Northlake Unitarian Universalist, and St. John’s Episcopal.

KIN chairperson, Sharon Sherrard said, “Kirkland’s low-income families have not had a better friend in their community than Jim Lauinger. From the days when he was the managing partner in Woods Lakeshore Pharmacy, Jim always supported KIN projects like the annual Back to School Drive and the CROP hunger walk …”

The annual KIN Alternative Giving Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14 at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 105 State Street in Kirkland. The Alternative Giving Fair hosts over 20 non-profit agencies who provide emergency assistance and long-term development for those in need. Representatives from local and global organizations will be present. In the spirit of “alternative” giving this holiday season, fair-goers may make a donation to the organizations of their choice and receive a lovely gift card to give to a person who they would normally remember with a material gift. For example, you could buy a flock of chicks for a family in Bolivia (through Heifer International) in honor of your child’s teacher, or a box of nails (through Habitat for Humanity) in honor of your favorite uncle. No more coffee mugs or ties! Ten Thousand Villages will also provide a selection of fair trade handcrafts to purchase from the developing world.

The ceremony to honor Mayor Lauinger is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.