Tuesday, March 16, 2010

My Favourite Store and a Giveaway


Ten Thousand Villages is my daughter Kate's and my favourite store.  


We went last Saturday to have a visit.


When we go we spend quite awhile looking at everything, and I do mean everything in the store.
 

 We have to check out the jewelry,


and bags,


and things for around the house,


and toys,


and baskets,


and fair trade coffee, tea, chocolate, spices, rice, and other food items.


 and too many other fantastic things to name them all.
 
One of the things I like best, is that Ten Thousand Villages is a nonprofit program of the Mennonite Central Committee, the relief and development agency of Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches in North America.  Most of the people working in the stores are volunteers and the products in the stores are all from Third World people.  The aim of the program is to provide a vital and fair income to unemployed or underemployed people by selling their handicrafts in North America.  They not only promote fair trade, but also environmental sustainability.  Kate and I think that being a buyer for the Ten Thousand Village program would be a dream job.

There are stores across Canada and United States and you can also shop on-line.
To find a store, try these websites:
in Canada look here
and in United States look here

We couldn't go to Ten Thousand Villages and not buy something - it's all for a good cause, right?  So I chose something for a giveaway now, and another something for one in April.  

 Since Easter is coming up, this is what I chose:
 

The two hand-painted Easter eggs are from India 



and the mat is from Bangladesh (I bought one for myself as well, since I'm very excited about all things from Bangladesh, as I might be going there in the summer of 2011 - you can read a bit about it here)



So if you are interested in the Easter giveaway, please 
leave a comment (for one chance to win)
become a Follower (for another chance to win)
mention it on your blog (for a third chance to win).  

The only thing I ask is that you please, please, please leave me an email address so I can contact you.  
The contest will be closing on Sunday, March 21st at 6:00 EST.  

11 comments:

  1. That looks like a really interesting store. I'll have to see if there are any in Michigan. Love the eggs---perfect giveaway for Easter.

    deborah150 athotmail.com

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  2. I follow

    deborah150 at hotmail.com

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  3. Hi Grace... I love Ten Thousand Villages here in London Ontario... It's a great store.
    You know I am a follower....
    gourcook2000@yahoo.ca

    Have a great day!!

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  4. What a wonderful store and your giveaway items are gorgeous! I'm already a follower and thanks for the chance to win these great treats!

    Kat :)

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  5. wow what a great giveaway...thanks

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  6. What a fun store and what a perfect time to win those beautiful eggs.

    thanks!

    Christina

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  7. These are so pretty - I want in!

    dreamindomestic at gmail.com

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  8. I'm from New Jersey and have never heard of this store. I'll have to see if there are any in the area. I imagine there has to be one or two in New York. Anyway I would love to win one of those eggs. They are just beautiful.


    agnstcmel@aol.com

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  9. You are so lucky to have a store. We love that each Fall there is a Ten Thousand Villages Sale in our community but sure wish we had them here year-round!

    I also love that you shared your plate story and the connection to Cobi Ladner. She is a friend of mine from many years ago! Wish I could see her more often too!

    sandy.savage@ns.sympatico.ca

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  10. I volunteered at Ten Thousand Villages in Calgary for about 7 years. I love their stuff. Count me in! Thank you.

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