Fair Trade chocolate sampling

Fifteen members of the Students for Peace and Survival group at Bethlehem High School got together yesterday to learn about Fair Trade. I hope they enjoyed this short video, Fair Trade the Story. Some informed discussion followed. As for the chocolate tasting, I know that went down well - Equal Exchange Milk, Dark with Almond and Extra Dark (71% cacao) Chocolate were enthusiastically sampled. As one student said, "If all Fair Trade chocolate tastes as good as this, I'm definitely buying Fair Trade!"

You can buy Fair Trade chocolate in Bethlehem at:

Delmar Reformed Church (Equal Exchange)
Delmar Health Hut (Divine)
Slingerlands Price Chopper, Organic and Natural section (Equal Exchange, Green & Blacks Maya Gold)
Hannafords

Everyone loves a parade!

The 3rd annual Bethlehem Holiday Parade takes place in Delmar this Friday, Dec 4th, from 6pm. Starting at the Town Hall, floats and fire trucks will parade up Delaware Avenue to Four Corners.

Fair Trade Delmar Campaign will be taking part, handing out FT chocolate and information. Come and cheer us on - or even better, join us.

If you need a cup of Fair Trade hot chocolate to warm you up after the parade, head to Delmar Reformed Church which is holding an Open House and will be glad to welcome you.

And if you are looking for holiday gifts, check out Peaceful Inspirations, open until 8pm this Friday and offering a 15% discount on Fair Trade Christmas ornaments.

Buy Fair, Buy Local for the Holidays

Holiday giving brings joy to our loved ones - and it can really benefit our local and global community, too. How about making up a basket of Fair Trade goodies for someone special this year? Here are some places in Bethlehem where you can buy Fair Trade:

Peaceful Inspirations - gifts
Delmar Farmers' Market at Delmar Presbyterian Church (Delaware/Cherry Ave), Saturdays 9am-1pm - gifts, coffee
Delmar Marketplace - coffee
Delmar Health Hut - coffee, chocolate, personal care products etc
Delmar Reformed Church (not-for-profit table) - coffee, tea, chocolate, nuts etc
Hannafords (organic and natural section) - various
Price Chopper (organic and natural section) - various

And while you are out shopping, why not take a FT break at one of these cafes:

Perfect Blend
Java Jazz
Four Corners Luncheonette
Brueggers
Dunkin' Donuts

Keep on supporting Fair Trade all year round and help build a fairer more sustainable world.

The weekend the world came to Delmar!

There was a great turnout for the two Fair Trade craft markets held over the past weekend (November 14 & 15). Congratulations to the organisers of both these excellent events, held at Delmar Reformed Church and Delmar United Methodist Church. I lost count of the number of countries that were represented - Malawi, Vietnam, Ecuador, Tibet, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan...the list was endless. And the crafts were BEAUTIFUL.

Different vendors attended each of the events, so well done those shoppers who came out on Saturday and Sunday and saw the best of both!

If you missed these sales, don't despair - there will be another chance to shop Fair Trade for the holidays on December 12 and 13 at St Thomas School, Delmar, after each Mass (from 5 pm on Saturday, and 7:30, 9, 10:30 am and 12 noon on Sunday). Again it will be a whole new set of vendors, so even those who came to this month's events won't want to miss out!

Thank you, shop hoppers!

THANK YOU to everyone who participated in Delmar's First Fair Trade Shop Hop. It's great that many local independent businesses are supporting Fair Trade, and that customers are showing they appreciate this commitment.

The lucky winners of the Shop Hop prize drawing have now been chosen and contacted. Congratulations all you winners! Thanks go to the businesses who donated gift vouchers: Ten Thousand Villages (Stuyvesant Plaza), Delmar Health Hut, Peaceful Inspirations and Java Jazz Cafe.

To those who took part but didn't win a prize - better luck next time! Meanwhile, please keep on promoting social justice by supporting Fair Trade in our community. Together we'll make Delmar a Fair Trade Town!

Fair Trade Faithful

Many faith groups have long been supporters of Fair Trade, as they recognize the compatibility of this movement with their beliefs and mission aims. We are delighted that several local churches are backing our campaign to make Delmar a Fair Trade Town.

The following all have a long-standing committment to Fair Trade:

Delmar Reformed Church serves FT refreshments after services and has a not-for-profit FT sales table in the lobby, available to the public. DRC will host a Fair Trade Market with multiple vendors on Saturday, November 14, 11am-5pm. All welcome.

Delmar United Methodist Church also prioritizes the use of FT products for its congregation, and provides a monthly sale of Equal Exchange goods. There will be a Fair Trade Fair at the church with vendors from throughout the Capital District on Sunday, November 15, 10:30am - 2pm. All welcome.

St. Thomas the Apostle Church is another long-term Fair Trade supporter, with regular sales to the congregation of FT coffee and, most recently, chocolate. An annual Fair Trade market - The Work of Human Hands sale - will be held at St Thomas School after ALL of the masses at the church on the weekend of December 12 and 13 (5 pm on Saturday and 7:30, 9, 10:30 am and 12 noon on Sunday. Open to all.

With so many Fair Trade markets to choose from right here in Delmar, it should be easy to find wonderful FT gifts for friends and family this holiday season. There will be different vendors at each event, so why not attend them all!

Gifts that give twice

Last Shop Hop stop is...

Peaceful Inspirations
384 Kenwood Ave, tel: 439 6537




A great place to buy locally made or Fair Trade gifts, including jewellery and toys.