This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Shop Where Your Dollars Save Lives

Local non-profit organization calls for your support this holiday season.

Did you know World Village Fair Trade Market is Long Island's first 100% Fair Trade store and that it's located right here in Hampton Bays?  "What is "fair trade", you may ask. It's a way of doing retail where producers and growers around the world who live in severe poverty are able to sell their products and receive a fair and living wage. The environment is carefully protected, sustainable methods are employed and loans and resources are given when needed. Fair trade guarantees there is no child labor or sweatshops, and or that any product is made with toxic chemicals or pesticides. We, at the World Village Fair Trade Market, invite you to partner with us this holiday season in some of the following ways:

1) Shop for gifts with us whenever possible, because fair trade products are beautiful and actually do save lives. Gifts such as organic coffees, teas, chocolate, jewelry, purses, hats and gloves, scarves, candles, musical instruments, to name a few categories. We all need a greeting card at times, so why not purchase a few of these at a time?  

2) Schedule a "Fair Trade Shoppers Night" for your friends, office, church group, etc.  (Groups of five or six or more) Call us at 631-728-7880 and tell us what night would be best for your group. The person who books the event will receive a 20% discount on $30 or more of his/her personal sale.  If you're a pastor or minister and book the event, it could financially benefit your church~! 

Find out what's happening in Westhampton-Hampton Bayswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

3) Tell your friends and relatives the good that fair trade does to help impoverished people and to consider visiting our store to shop. Tell them that all proceeds (after store expenses) are given to support hundreds of orphans, too.

4) We also support hundreds of orphans in Kenya and Zambia and always need financial support to keep these little ones fed, in their schools and in a safe home. If you can help, please send us your tax-deductible gift to:

Find out what's happening in Westhampton-Hampton Bayswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Sobornost For The World Foundation, 101 W. Montauk Highway, Suite 4, Hampton Bays, NY. 11946. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working to solve issues of poverty and hunger through fair trade and financial support of orphans.

Did you know that World Village Fair Trade Market celebrated its 10th year in 2012?  Thanks to the generous help of local volunteers, our doors stay open and our fair trade products keep coming.  We are dedicated to our two missions and work everyday to make a difference in the lives of people all around the world. If you would like to volunteer or have skills you would like to share with our non-profit, please contact us at villagefairtrade@yahoo.com or call 631-728-7880 and ask for Eileen or Pattye.

Life gets better for people when people step up and share their talent, time and treasure. We've loved providing these fair trade products with you over the past 10 years, and caring for needy children.  We want to encourage you to consider ways to reach out to our world in whatever way you are feel called. We, at World Village Fair Trade Market and Sobornost For The World Foundation, wish you and those you love and support a very joyful and peace-filled holiday season!

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?