The following article and pictures appeared in the News Record
Weekender and are being re-printed with permission of Gateway Newspapers.
(Click
on pictures to enlarge)
Church gift
shop helps overseas families
By Jeff
Fuller, Staff Writer
Saturday, December 18, 2004
From
an interesting instrument to a hand-crafted crèche, just walking through the
front door at Olive Branch Gift Shop in Salem United Methodist Church in
Wexford creates the feeling of many cultures throughout the world present in
one small room.
"The unique
thing that makes it meaningful for people is that when they buy something
here, they know that they are getting a handmade item," says store volunteer
Mary Sheehan."They also know they are helping people in a fair way."
The Olive
Branch is supplied with a variety of hand-crafted items made by craftsmen
and farmers in struggling countries and is coordinated through Sale Exchange
for Refugee Rehabilitation and Vocation Inter-national (SERRV).
The
organization started in 1949 to help refugees in Europe recover economically
and socially from World War II.
SERRV
International works with thousands of small-scale artisans and farmers in
Africa, Asia, Latin America and other developing regions by marketing their
handcrafts and agricultural products.
Worldwide,
SERRV works with 90 community-based organizations in 34 countries.
Over the
years, the fair trade organization has expanded its reach and in 2003 sold
$6.6 million in handicrafts, coffee and Divine chocolate throughout the
United States.
Most
recently, SERRV International launched a new name for its handcraft program,
"A Greater Gift."
"In a lot
of cases, SERRV pays their craft people right up front so they don't have to
wait for their items to be sold," says Sheehan.
"Their goal
is to encourage the craftspeople to become self-sufficient."
As
SERRV has changed, so has the Olive Branch Gift Shop. When it began offering
items with international significance 29 years ago, the business was run
from a small motel room. Over the years it occupied space in Cranberry
Township until settling down at Salem UM.
Open yearly
from early November to late December, the shop offers a large spectrum of
handicrafts including toys, instruments, nativity scenes, jewelry,
statuettes and even Nicaraguan coffee.
The robust
coffee blend hails from the Porvenir Coffee Cooperative that comes from a
mountainside that is the home to 48 families.
Too small
to be included in the Fair Trade Labeling Organization, the Porvenir farmers
are marketing their coffee blend through Building New Hope, a
Pittsburgh-based non-profit organization.
"What we
offer changes continually because there will be items we can no longer get
because of a situation in another country. Years ago when war was going on
in El Salvador, in spite of the need, SERRV could not make the connection
anymore," says Sheehan.
"It really
varies depending on what is going on in the country."
Year after
year, Olive Branch opens its doors to the public where all items are genuine
and attracts those that are looking for an item that means something.
"We have a
motto, 'Gifts That Make a Difference' because it's making a difference
around the world to people," says Sheehan.
"That
appeals to people during the holiday season because they get so fed up with
the commercialization and are looking for a way to add a little meaning with
what they're doing."
We look forward to seeing you!!
 Nicaraguan
coffee from the Porvenir Coffee Cooperative is being sold in the
Olive Branch. This rich, organic coffee comes from a lovely
mountainside that is home to 48 families. Too small to be included
in the Fair Trade Labeling Organization, the Porvenir farmers are being
helped to get their coffee marketed by Building New Hope, a
Pittsburgh based non-profit organization. You can help these
farmers support their families by purchasing a pound (ground or whole
bean) of this delicious coffee to take home. |
Located at Salem United Methodist Church, 350
Manor Road, Wexford PA
Phone:
724-935-1627
To volunteer, please see Billie Warner, Mary Sheehan, or Vivian Sylvester.
