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World on display at charity fair sale
Regan Hill photo
Mary Talley admires Peruvian finger puppets during a trade sale at Broad Street United Methodist Church.
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Published: November 23, 2008
Miranda Baker tinkered with what was surely some kind of music maker. It was constructed of thin, rounded, rectangular cover with a strip of wood and aligned with metal prongs.
Baker said she is always on the lookout for such things. Her father, she said, is something of a collector of obscure musical instruments.
The device was one of many knick-knacks, chachkas, ornaments, baskets and other potential gift items for sale Saturday at Broad Street United Methodist Church's second annual International Holiday Fair Trade Sale hosted by the church's women's group.
Baker examined the gadget a bit more closely and discovered it was from a country called Burkina Faso.
"I've never even heard of that country or would never have known it was a country," Baker confessed.
She needn't be ashamed, as the central-western African nation is probably less familiar to most people than the miniature xylophone produced there.
But the country had much in common with others represented at the festival. Its people are among the poorest in the world.
Goods from Peru, India, Kenya, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Vietnam and several other mostly Third World countries were on display and available for purchase.
The products are supplied to the church for sale by 10,000 Villages, an importer and retailer that sells the goods as a way of helping the people who make them.
"For us, this is an easy but very important project," said Cheryl Maner, the event's organizer. "These are the best and newest things that 10,000 Villages has. And this really helps these people who are so poor."
James and Susan Foushee have a son who did missionary work in the African nations of Ethiopia and Uganda. So when they heard about the sale, they felt compelled to participate.
"If this can help the missionary work or the people in these countries I think that's a good thing," said Susan.
James agreed and added that it was also a good way to shop for items off the beaten trail.
"There are a lot of interesting and unique items here," he said. "I think it's good to get away from the chain stores and see something different."
Stacy Shoemaker said the sale played right into her Christmas shopping plans for the year.
"I had already decided to get handmade items this year," she said after purchasing a number of woven baskets made in Bangladesh, Indian soaps and a rattle-type toy for her infant daughter, Josie.
"I think it's nice to see these kinds of things in Statesville," Shoemaker added. "You usually have to go to Charlotte or another city to see things like this."
Erin Cass agreed. The North Iredell High School sophomore purchased some incense from India and seemed moved by the many different items on display.
"I think it is really cool to see things from all around the world and from such different cultures" she said. "And they are such nice things where you can tell that people put a lot of effort into them. I think this is great and that we should all do more to help people from less fortunate countries."
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