MIFFLINTOWN - It's all about a fair trade.
The 18th annual Juniata Valley International Gifts Sale will be held Nov. 16 to 17 at Cedar Grove Brethren in Christ Church in Mifflintown.
Patrons can visit from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
Article Photos
Sentinel file photo
Deb Richmond sets up a jewelry display at the 2011 International Gifts Sale in Mifflintown.
The mission statement of the sale is to "support world artisans and craftsmen through the sale of fair trade products" and to "promote cultural understanding in our community by providing high-quality gift items from around the world."
Items for sale include Christmas ornaments, an expanded selection of jewelry items, baskets, household items, toys, musical instruments, soaps, decorative boxes and candles, and international foods like jams, coffees, and chocolates.
Deb Richmond helps organize the event and said this year new jewelry items have been added from the group known as Women at Risk International.
"The purpose of this international organization is to 'give voice to the silenced cries of the oppressed, wrap arms of love around them, and whisper messages of purpose and dignity into their brokenness. Through culturally sensitive, value-added intervention projects and programs, WAR International offers these women and children an opportunity to live life with dignity.' The WAR organization also sponsors WAR parties that function much like other home parties where guests are invited to view and order products," Richmond said.
The name of the sale was changed to promote a community-feel and an outreach. Richmond noted, "We wanted the sale to be a community event rather than be centered in one congregation or organization. One of our planning team members, Judy Mummau, created a web site that features each of the four vendors whose items will be for sale this year. In previous years, we sold items from Ten Thousand Villages and SERRV. Last year, we added some new items and vendors such as BeadForLife, an organization that helps women in Uganda to become self-supporting artisans."
For more information, visit www.juniatainternationalgiftssale.com.
