For more than 15 years, we had Christmas Fair Trade Craft Sales at Good Shepherd to support local artisans in El Salvador and Guatemala earn a living wage; this year we bring that tradition back!

These crafts make lovely Christmas gifts and all items are unique, colorful, beautiful, and handmade by artisans who are deeply committed to sustainable community development. Most artisans are women and single mothers who have formed cooperatives and collectives that operate with humane working conditions and the goal to provide for their families with income-generating alternatives to working in sweatshops or migrating to the United States. These earnings help them afford a decent standard of living with clean water, food, healthcare, education and other essential needs.

Items are handmade using ancestral techniques combined with ever-evolving artistic designs including things like:

• Pine Needle and Native Wild Grass Baskets

• Colorful Woven Linens

• Scarves, Headbands, Purses

• Beaded and Seeded Jewelry

• Wooden Treasures

• Unique Felted, Recycled, Wooden Ornaments

After both morning services on Sunday December, 15 and 22 we will be in the Parish Hall with a festive and elaborate display of items for purchase. Please consider helping support these fair trade artisans.