Joining Hands for a Better World: 12.12.13

On December 3, I set out on a pre-Christmas challenge — to post a tip a day we can collectively follow with the goal of making the world a better place. 

Today’s suggestion: Shop for Good  

You could shop at a museum gift shop, an online store supporting a favorite cause, or a holiday craft fair. You could purchase fair trade coffee or chocolate, either at a local store or online at Equal Exchange…

…or, you could shop at Ten Thousand Villages. 

I am lucky to live just about a mile from an actual store in New Haven, CT, where I have bought countless gifts. But don’t despair if there is not a store near you. Ten Thousand Villages also has an excellent website, complete with a gift finder and store locator.

Ten Thousand Villages is a fair trade retailer, founded in 1946 by Edna Ruth Byler, the wife of a Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) administrator, after a trip to Puerto Rico where she met some women artisans. Struck by the poverty in which the women lived, Byler purchased their needlework, brought it home, and began selling it from the trunk of her car to her friends and neighbors in Pennsylvania. For the next 30 years, Byler worked tirelessly to connect individual entrepreneurs in developing countries with market opportunities in North America.

Ten Thousand Villages expanded over the years, becoming a 501(c)3, owned by the MCC in 2000. Ten Thousand Villages now has a network of 390 retail outlets across the US. 10,000 Villages is an exceptional source for unique handmade gifts—jewelry, home decor, art and sculpture, textiles, servingware, holiday decorations, clothing, and personal accessories representing the diverse cultures of artisans in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. You can meet some of the artisans here. 

One of the world's largest fair trade organizations and a founding member of the World Fair Trade Organization, the company strives to improve the livelihood of tens of thousands of artisans in 38 countries by establishing a sustainable market for handmade products, and building long term buying relationships in places where skilled artisan partners lack opportunities for stable income. Product sales help pay for food, education, healthcare and housing for artisans who would otherwise be unemployed or underemployed. The company encourages artisan partners to use environmentally friendly processes, sustainable natural resources, and recycled materials to ensure each product offered has been crafted responsibly.  Every year since 2008, Ten Thousand Villages has been named one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies" by the Ethisphere Institute and Forbes Magazine. While no longer wholly owned by the MCC, Ten Thousand Villages remains a partner of Mennonite Central Committee.

There is always something new at Ten Thousand Villages, where you can find a gift for almost everyone, no matter what their age. 

There are just 13 days to Christmas. If you still need a gift or two, check out Ten Thousand Villages ASAP. Winter wear is currently on sale at many stores, and the online site offers a deal of the day. 

Shop here and you will bring a smile to your loved one’s face AND a bit of joy to a stranger.

What a big bang for your buck!

That’s it for today. “See you tomorrow.”

“All together now,” as the Beatles once sang. Let’s see how much good we can do over the next few weeks.

Joining Hands for a Better World: 12.11.13

On December 3, I set out on a pre-Christmas challenge — to post a tip a day we can collectively follow with the goal of making the world a better place. 

Today’s suggestion: Give the Gift of Yourself.  

These gift certificates were my best Mothers' Day present one year not all that long ago. But the idea would work for Christmas just as well.

They are part of a larger set, if you can believe it.

This one is my favorite.

Here is one where I was meant to fill in the blanks. The kind-hearted grade schooler didn’t indicate an expiration date. Maybe I could still cash it in!

May these lovingly crafted cards inspire you. 

Even if your “certificates” are never used, I guarantee the thought will be forever cherished.

That’s it for today. “See you tomorrow.” 

“All together now,” as the Beatles once sang. Let’s see how much good we can do over the next few weeks.

Joining Hands for a Better World: 12.10.13

One week ago I set out on a pre-Christmas challenge — to post a tip a day we can collectively follow with the goal of making the world a better place. 

Today’s suggestion: Light Your Tree with LEDs. 

LED (Light-emitting diode) lights consume far less electricity than incandescent bulbs, and that includes strings of holiday lights! According to info found at the US Department of Energy website [scroll down the page for the section on holiday lights], LEDs are also:

1. Safer: LEDs are much cooler than incandescent lights, reducing the risk of combustion or burnt fingers.
2. Sturdier: LEDs are made with epoxy lenses, not glass, and are much more resistant to breakage.
3. Longer lasting: The same LED string could still be in use 40 holiday seasons from now.
4. Easier to install: Up to 25 strings of LEDs can be connected end-to-end without overloading a wall socket.

If you need any more convincing, check out Energy.gov's estimated cost of electricity to light a tree for one season.

And Energy.gov's cost of buying and operating lights for 10 holiday seasons.

For info on the vast assortment of LED holiday strands available, where to purchase them, and special offers for trading in your old strings of lights for some new ones, check out this article at thedailygreen.

Here are two different options on sale at True Value Hardware.

EnvironmentalLights.com even offers a solar option. 

I hope I’ve caught you in time, but if you’re tree is already up, there’s always next year!

That’s it for today. “See you tomorrow.”

“All together now,” as the Beatles once sang. Let’s see how much good we can do over the next few weeks.