“Our hope is that our community will come shop in a nonprofit store that supports fair trade and also want to help another nonprofit succeed,” Ten Thousand Villages store manager Laurel Averill said in a statement.
The fundraiser aims to celebrate Ten Thousand Villages’ 18 years of service in Pasadena while supporting the work of Pasadena Humane. Customers can participate by shopping at the store’s dedicated dog and cat table throughout July.
“The table is set with our dog and cat items ready for our first day of our community shopping event with the Pasadena Humane! Buy anything from this table and we will give 15% back to this fabulous local non-profit,” said a Facebook post by Ten Thousand Villages earlier this week.
Ten Thousand Villages, which opened its Pasadena location in June 2006 as the first of its kind in California, is part of a global maker-to-market movement that prioritizes ethical sourcing and fair trade practices. The store offers a variety of handmade products, including jewelry, home decor, and hand-knotted rugs from artisans around the world.
The retailer emphasizes its commitment to economic justice and improving the quality of life for makers globally. “Every single dollar donated has a real-world impact,” the store’s mission statement declares, highlighting the importance of fair wages and respect for artisans.
In addition to shopping, community members can support Ten Thousand Villages Pasadena through various means: volunteering, joining the Board of Directors, and leaving reviews on platforms like Google or Yelp.
The store is seeking Board members with experience in law, retail, social media, advertising/marketing, volunteer management, finance/accounting, or nonprofit sectors.
Ten Thousand Villages Pasadena is open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Those interested in learning more about fair trade can also attend presentations offered by the retailer. Additionally, the shop hosts a Little Free Library at its Lake Ave entrance.
For more information, visit www.tenthousandvillages.com/pasadena.