According to Ten Thousand Villages’ mission statement, the organization creates “opportunities for artisans in developing countries to earn income by bringing their products and stories to our markets through long-term fair trading relationships.” For more than 20 years, the University Mennonite Church in State College held sales of those freetrade items.
Now, Ten Thousand Villages of Central PA has leased and refurbished a building at 1341 S. Atherton St. in Talbots Plaza, where it is selling its internationally produced products.
Two years ago, Ten Thousand Villages of Central PA obtained nonprofit status, immediately beginning to raise money for its dream of an actual store in which to sell its items. The group held a soft opening in August for the new store. Its official grand opening will take place during Free Trade Month from Friday, Oct. 19, through Friday, Oct. 26, with music, food demonstrations, giveaways, readings and children’s activities.
“Although the grand opening will continue throughout the week, most of the activities, such as radio broadcasts, ribbon-cutting, etc., will take place on the first weekend of the opening,” said board chairman Joel Weidner.
Store hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays.
It carries beautiful jewelry, carved animals from Kenya, pottery from Vietnam, rice pillows from Guatemala and much more. The store has a range of prices, from $4.95 to $295, to suit any budget. Artisans are paid a fair wage, receiving 50 percent at the time of order and 50 percent when the order is shipped.
Shoppers will be fascinated by items such as a true compass necklace that was made from leftover brass bomb casings in Cambodia. Each piece represents “peace out of conflict.”
A nonprofit Cambodian organization, Rajana Association, works with the rural and urban poor to teach traditional crafting methods, as well as accounting, marketing, computer skills and English. Ten Thousand Villages has been buying from Rajana since 2007.
“At the national workshop, the CEO said that the average relationship of the stores to their artisans is 25 years,” said board member and vice chairman Jean Landis.
The new manager at the store is Kieran Holland and the assistant manager is Jenn Miller. All other workers are volunteers, and the store is looking for more to help run the day-to-day operations. Volunteers are required to work eight hours a month, in either two- or four-hour shifts, and receive a store discount.
For more information, visit www.tenthousandvillages.com/statecollege or call (814) 954-5043.
