girlscout's Blog

Following is a list of local "Fair Trade" companies for your Holiday shopping (or anytime shopping). These companies help local  and global groups (especially women), to support themselves. "Give a man a fish and he eats for a day - Teach him how to fish, and he eats for a lifetime", is a very appropriate statement and  a good reason to support these companies.

     ESPERANZA THREADS - 1160 Broadway - Bedford, Oh. 44146 - 440-786-9009 - Esperanza pays a living wage to Cleveland women. The  produce organic clothing for men, women and children.  www.esperanzathreads.com

     INTO - 2425 West River Rd. - Ste 239 Elyria, Oh, 44035 - 440-324-4323 - Illimuniating nations through Opportunity meets the immediate goals of Ecuadorian families living in poverty by marketing their handicrafts. INTO pays the artisans a fair price. www.intoworld.com.

     REVIVE - 2248 Lee Rd. - Cleveland Hts, Oh, 44118 - Ethically-made apparel, fair trade, union-made, men, women and kids. www.ReviveStore.com.

     TENTHOUSANDVILLAGES - 19321 Detroit Rd, Rocky River, 44116 and Trinity Commons, 2254 Euclid Ave, Cleve, Ohio 44115. Non-profit alternative trading organization providing vital, fair income to people in the Global south by selling their handicrafts. The stores offer fair-trade coffee, chocolate, gift items and more. Voted  best non-mall shopping in Cleveland. www.tenthousandvillages.com.

     HEARTBEATS - 20015 Detroit Rd., Rocky River, Oh, 44116 - 440-356-8601 - Heartbeats is dedicated to developing self-sufficiency for women and developing world artists. www.heartbeatscatalog.org.

     A GREATER GIFT - 800-422-5915 - www.agreatergift.org. Promotes the social and economic progress of people in developing regions of the world by purchasing and marketing their crafts in a just manner.

     Not only can you buy unusual and unique gifts at very reasonable prices,  but supporting these groups helps teach people in our country and other countries how to support themselves and their families. The more we do this, the less foreign aid  will come out of our pockets. It's a small start, but we have to start somewhere - and in return, we can all get some of our Christmas shopping done without fighting the crowds at the Mall!