Now in its 22nd year, the Abundance Swap brings hundreds to the Historic Ashland Armory to generosity, community, and true gift-giving without the pressure of holiday spending
By Kayla Heffner for Ashland.news
It’s all about giving at the annual Ashland Abundance Swap.
The Historic Ashland Armory in Ashland hosted the 22nd annual Abundance Swap on Sunday, Dec. 14. It’s a popular Ashland alternative holiday event aimed at offering families a way of celebrating gift-giving without breaking the bank which annually draws hundreds of attendees.
Volunteer Susan Anderson said Sunday it was her first time attending, but her sister-in-law has been with the gift swap since it started. Anderson moved here from Wisconsin and joked it’s balmy here compared to below zero there.
“I’m a new Ashland resident so I got to come along and help today. It’s been wonderful, it’s just the best idea for sharing abundance and not having to be commercial today,” Anderson said.
The concept is simple: Everyone brings three items to give away and everyone gets to take three things home with them. It’s a fun way for parents to teach their kids about the concept of “giving” to others, focusing less on spending and more on connecting with the people around you.
One mother could be heard telling her son and daughter there was one round left for them each to pick a gift for someone. Dressed in all green and red, Tracy Rude and Grandma Rude helped the kids make their way through the auditorium.
“Well, it’s nice because they picked out three of their toys to bring here and it’s just about giving. It’s good to teach them that they can re-gift their toys and pick out other things for other people as well as picking out something for themselves,” Rude said.
Grandma Rude chimed in, “And they picked out something for their parents, and their grandma, who’s me. They hadn’t shopped yet for their parents so it was pefect.”
Rude also said she and her family love being here in Ashland in the community during the holidays. “It’s so beautiful walking downtown, being in the holiday spirit, and spending time with each other.”
Jeff Golden started the Abundance Swap 24 years ago in 2001 as a way of countering the consumerism of Black Friday after Thanksgiving. (This year’s was the 22nd annual since the fest wasn’t held during the pandemic years of 2020 through 2022.)
Golden mentioned the idea during an episode of JPR’s Jefferson Exchange, then two weeks later Golden held the first Abundance Swap.
It has been a popular holiday tradition ever since.
“Well this idea came up almost 25 years ago when we were talking on talk radio about how kinda weird and intense Black Friday the day after Thanksgiving had become with people so revved up to buy, buy, buy. Many of us are lucky enough to have a lot of nice things that we don’t use,” Golden said. That’s when he came up with the idea for the gift swap.
“People go into their own possessions and find three things they’re not using that someone would like as a gift and bring it here. It seems like it inspires a different kind of feeling about the holidays and because of that it’s lasted since 2001,” Golden said.
There were dozens of round tables covered in different knickknacks such as art, toys, books, games, puzzles, jewlery, clothing, and even several pairs of skis.
Everyone took turns touring the tables as Golden rang a bell every couple of minutes for groups to switch and pick out their gifts. During a break, a Ukrainian choir performed on stage for the crowd, singing traditional songs from their home country. Golden says this event is about much more than about gifts; it also helps people remember what’s near-and-dear to their hearts.
“My favorite thing about the event is the way people tend to go inside and think about a few things, about what they have to be grateful for, about why they care about the community, about how they feel about stuff and how attached they are to stuff, the kind of generosity that’s inside that doesn’t always come out,” Golden said. “It just seems to be the kind of thing that sparks off some real reflection about some things that are pretty important. We didn’t really expect that when we started, but that’s what we hear from people, that they walk away feeling good and really feeling grateful and feeling more connected to the community.”
Golden has lived in Ashland since 1984 and acts of service have been a central part of his life here. He said another demonstration of the community’s generosity was a recent fundraiser at Ashland High School for Ukraine which is why he asked for the choir to perform at his event. People were also encouraged to bring non-perishable food donations for the Ashland Community Food Bank (ACFB).
Sunday also marked the first day of Hannukah. Over on Ashland Plaza a menorah lighting celebration took place with singing and dancing. It was a weekend filled with abundance not with material items, but something much more important: matters of the heart.
Journalist Kayla Heffner lives in Ashland. Email her at kheffner1@gmail.com.
Related stories:
Hundreds flock to Ashland’s annual Abundance Swap (Dec. 15, 2024)
The joy of giving: Ashland Abundance Swap returns — ‘We’re just delighted to be back’ (Dec. 17, 2023)
