Nehalem and Manzanita — In small communities, rivalries, personality conflicts and fears about dividing limited resources often keep organizations from working together.

However, for the last three years, there has been an exception to that dynamic in the Nehalem Bay area on the North Oregon Coast. Three rather dissimilar organizations have banded together to coordinate and publicize their holiday gift fairs: the Nehalem Bay Methodist Church, the White Clover Grange near Mohler and the Alternative Gift Fair in Manzanita.

In 2011, discovering that there were plans to hold the three events during the same time frame, organizers agreed to hold each competing event on the same day during the same hours and to split up the often tedious and time-consuming task of publicizing the events.

This year, the three holiday bazaars will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6. Splitting up some of the work and creating a system for publicity has allowed the organizers to focus more on each particular event and have more fun and success.

Out-of-area holiday shoppers can make a day of it in the Nehalem Bay area and plan their route using these details about this year’s holiday bazaars:

Nehalem Bay United Methodist Church will host its 43rd annual Christmas Bazaar & Clam Chowder Luncheon. Located at 36050 10th St. in Nehalem, this long-running bazaar has added a silent auction and craft vendors to its traditional components: Granny’s Attic for gently used treasures, filled baskets ready for giving, and jewelry, bakery and candy tables. All proceeds will go to the church’s charitable work, including Healthy Families, Good News Club and Marie Mills, as well as other charities in the United States and overseas. For more information, call 503-368-5612.

The Alternative Gift Market will be held at Pine Grove Community House located at 225 Laneda Ave. in Manzanita. This market will provide a different direction in meaningful holiday giving. Shoppers can make a contribution to any one of a variety of local nonprofits or worldwide projects. Shoppers then receive a gift card (one for each donation) to give to friends and family to let them know that a gift was made in their name to a cause that will benefit others. Approximately two-thirds of the funds raised will go to local nonprofits and one-third to international projects. Local groups include Sammy’s Place, CARE, Tillamook County Women’s Resource Center and the Hoffman Center. The market is sponsored by Fulcrum Community Resources, whose mission is to create sustainability in north Tillamook County. For more information, call 503-368-6874.

The third holiday bazaar is at the White Clover Grange located at 36585 Oregon Highway 53, about two miles east of U.S. Highway 101, a humorous cow sculpture landmarks the spot. The Grange will emphasize locally produced food items including Lance’s Farm Vittles Christmas meats, Planeterry Honey & Candles, North Coast Soap Company, Tallwoman Tonics & Herbals, a variety of jams, crocheted and knitted items, beadwork, Christmas ornaments, greeting cards and more produced by local craftspeople and grange members. To top off the Grange bazaar, a quilt will be raffled. Proceeds will be used for replacing the roof on the historic Grange building. For more information, call 503-812-9965.