Socially Aware Shopping

border="0">I had heard many good things about the beautifully handcrafted items of Ten Thousand Villages, but last week was my first trip to the store. My friend and coworker Heather suggested that we head over there during our lunch break one day, and I happily complied. Upon stepping foot in the door, I immediately knew that this was a place where I could spend a lot of time and a lot of money! The store in my city is not terribly large, so I walked through it three or four times before deciding what to buy. It was hard to narrow down the choices because everything in the store is fantastic.

On this particular trip, I wondered if I should buy things for myself. An embroidered tree of life wall hanging? A cat coin bank? A picture frame? A candle? No, not this time. There were a lot of things I wanted, but I decided that this trip wasn’t for me. Instead, I would use this trip to purchase Christmas presents for friends and family. I selected items I thought would hold specific meaning for the folks on my list. I’d tell you what they are, but some of those people read the articles on CoolPeopleCare. So, you’ll just have to peruse the site for yourself and guess what wonders I might have brought home!

I can’t remember her exact phrasing, but Heather aptly described Ten Thousand Villages as something along the lines of Pier1 with a social conscious. The stuff they have is colorful and creative and amazing. It’s pretty easy to find something for everyone. But more than their fabulous goods, Ten Thousand Villages is a fabulous organization. When you buy from their store, you have the satisfaction of knowing that the people who crafted the items are getting paid a fair wage for their work.

If you happen to live in a town with a brick and mortar store, head on over. You can volunteer to work in the store. And, you can even shop online! It’s Christmastime, and they’ve got lots of decorations, garlands and streamers, nativity sets, ornaments, and tree toppers. Pay them a real or virtual visit and help someone make a living and improve their life.