Ensure a Better Life for Others
For many farmers and artisans, being able to sell into the fair trade market means the difference between being able to feed a family or not, being able to send their children to school or not, being able to have access to clean water-and many other basic necessities they can't take for granted.
By making your purchases of coffee, tea, chocolate, and craft items from fair trade distributors, you are helping to ensure a better life for farmers and artisans globally.
UMCOR supports fair trade. We encourage United Methodists to send a signal that we want an economy that is just and sustainable.
Good Coffee for a Good Cause
"We used to live in houses made of corn husks. Now we have homes of adobe, better work, better schools, and a greater community of decision makers."-Don Miguel Sifontes, President, El Salvador coffee cooperative
The UMCOR Coffee Project links congregations with small farmers and their families through fair trade. It is a way to help people like Don Miguel Sifontes while enjoying fellowship and an excellent cup of coffee. In addition your support of the UMCOR Coffee Project provides income to UMCOR.
As Christians we can reach out to neighbors overseas with our thoughtful purchases as well as our offerings. Our buying coffee that is fairly traded leads to better health and better lives for farmers in Latin America, Africa, and Asia-some of the poorest regions of the world. We can help them earn a fairer share of income, obtain access to credit and technical support, and gain a trading partner they can trust-a fair trade organization called Equal Exchange. This is truly good coffee for a good cause!
Did You Know?
- Coffee is big business-the second most heavily traded commodity in the world.
- Some 20 million people depend on coffee for their livelihood.
- The chain of events that leads from the coffee farm to your cup is long and expensive. Benefits to the small farmer: Few. Many are trapped in poverty.
- One reason for this trap is: intermediaries, called "coyotes" in Latin American countries, offer coffee farmers the lowest possible prices to inflate their own profits.
Fair trade is the alternative. Fair trade spreads the bounty of a rich crop among those who grow the crop, helping them build a better future for their families and communities. "By drinking a cup of fairly traded coffee you're giving small farmers in poor countries an opportunity to plan their own futures," affirms Gabriel Ulomi of a coffee cooperative in Tanzania.
What You Can Do
- Sponsor the UMCOR Coffee Project. Serve fairly traded coffee and tea at church events and after worship. Make it available to members for home use. Then, as your congregation enjoys this high quality coffee, take time to learn more about its impact on the people who grow it.
- Offer gift baskets of fairly traded coffee and tea for new members, as Christmas presents, or on other occasions.
- Discuss fair trade issues in church school and study groups. Provide local businesses with information about offering fairly traded coffee from Equal Exchange.
How to Order
Order coffee, tea, chocolate and other products through Equal Exchange, an employee-owned fair trade organization.
On the Web Direct from Equal Exchange
Email interfaith@equalexchange.com
Phone 774-776-7366
Fax Fill out an order form and fax to 505-587-5955
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Download order Form]
