Fair Trade On Feb. 14, 07 Lutheran World Relief (LWR) became an investing partner in Divine Chocolate Inc. (formerly The Day Chocolate Company). Divine Chocolate Inc. is a farmer-owned Fair Trade chocolate company and will focus on building support for Fair Trade in the United States. LWR has been involved in the Fair Trade movement since the launch of the LWR Coffee Project in 1996. Over time, LWR’s Fair Trade projects have grown to include fairly traded handcrafts and chocolate. LWR launched the LWR Chocolate Project in 2003, and, since then, Lutherans have begun using Fair Trade chocolate in their parishes for such things as fund raisers and coffee hours.
Gloria Dei Fair Trade has begun selling a few new items. We are going to see is there interest in ground coffee as well as the coffee beans that we have been selling for some time now. The ground coffee choices thus far are: Sisters’ Blend (Nicaraguan/Peruvian mix that honors women farmers), Hazelnut Crème, Hazelnut Crème (decaf), French Vanilla, and Toffee Caramel. We also have some new chocolate choices: Organic Baking Cocoa (8 oz. cans), Organic Milk Chocolate with Ground Hazelnuts (3.5 oz. bars), and Organic Chocolate Espresso Bean (3.5 oz. bars). The cocoa comes from two farmer cooperatives: CONACADO (Dominican Republic) and CACVRA (Peru).
(read more on this program...) FAIR TRADE INTERFAITH PROGRAM submitted by Tom Uecker Lutherans are not the only church group to be involved in Fair Trade. Many churches have helped Equal Exchange to promote the concept of Fair Trade. And Equal Exchange has helped churches by creating an Interfaith Program which assists churches and faith-based organizations. This partnership has helped coffee producing cooperatives in many parts of the world. Not only are wages improved for the farmers, but the communities also receive assistance in housing, health, schools and other areas.
CHURCHES AND/OR ORGANIZATIONS Lutheran World Relief, American Friends Service Committee, American Jewish World Service, Catholic Relief Services, Church of the Brethren, Episcopal Relief and Development, Jewish Fund For Justice, Mennonite Central Committee, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Religious Action Center, Reform Judaism, Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, United Church of Christ, United Methodist Committee on Relief, World Vision. (To go back to the Service Opportunities page click here.)
"Empowered by Christ's love, Gloria Dei reaches out as an inclusive, welcoming church through worship and social action."