Ten Thousand Villages sale
Reporter staff
The Mercer Island Presbyterian Church will host its annual Ten Thousand Villages Sale on Nov. 7-11. Ten Thousand Villages is a fair trade organization that has the goal of “[providing] vital, fair income to Third World people by marketing their handicrafts and telling their stories in North America,” according to its mission statement.
The organization, initially affiliated with the Mennonite Central Committee, was founded in 1946 after Edna Ruth Byler of Akron, Pa., began selling Puerto Rican craft items to benefit the craftsmen, many of whom were poor. The sale itself evolved from a Sunday School creche-selling holiday event.
One hundred ten artisan groups and cooperatives in 35 developing countries benefit from the sale, and all sale proceeds at MIPC will go directly to Ten Thousand Villages, which won the 2006 People Choice Award for Green Business of the Year.
More than 100 church and community volunteers will participate in the sale, which will take place from 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Nov. 7-8; 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Nov. 9-10; and 11:30-12:30 p.m., Nov. 11.
Be sure to send the Reporter information about your special holiday event, sale or celebration. E-mail Rebecca at rmar@mi-reporter.com or call us at (206) 232-1215.
Annual Ski and Snow Board Swap
Reporter staff
The annual Ski and Board Swap at Islander Middle School is set for Saturday, Nov. 3, from 8:30 a.m, to 2 p.m. The half-price sale is from 4 to 5 p.m. Items can be checked in for consignment sale, Nov. 2, from 3-8:30 p.m. Consignors keep 75 percent of the sale price, and the IMS PTSA gets the remaining amount. Inventory sheets and inventory tags may be picked up at all MISD school offices prior to the event, and they will be also be available at the time of check-in. The swap is the major fundraiser for the PTSA. Last year, it raised more than $18,000.
Sturtervant’s Snow Sports of Bellevue is the sponsor for the event again this year. In response to last year’s requests, more junior ski and board equipment will be brought in for the swap. There will be a door buster special on Saturday morning featuring Smith Ski goggles for $9.99, available in limited quantities.
For more information, go to the swap Web site at www.miskiswap.net or contact Risa Anderegg at anderegg7850@comcast.net, 230-9853, or Erin Dahlgren at ecdahlgren@comcast.net, 236-2395.
