10,000 Villages International Christmas Market

The annual shopping event showcases handcrafted items marketed by Ten Thousand Villages, a nonprofit fair trade organization and a founding member of the World Fair Trade Organization. Work sold through the Ten Thousand Villages improves the livelihood of tens of thousands of disadvantaged artisans in 38 countries. Product sales help pay for food, education, health care and housing for artisans who would otherwise be unemployed or underemployed. All sales revenue generated by Ten Thousand Villages and any surplus earned by operations are retained within the organization. Surpluses are used to increase purchases from artisans and to finance the growth of Ten Thousand Villages retail network. The 2016 Ten Thousand Villages International Market includes items made by members of Westminster Presbyterian Church. Sales of these items will benefit local, regional and global mission work of the church. Fair trade coffees, teas, chocolates and olive oil benefiting Westminster Presbyterian Youth projects will also be sold at the event.