To the Editor:
I love that fair trade was covered in the Nov. 6 issue of The Catholic Messenger! For all the reasons mentioned, helping provide a just wage to artisans and growers around the world enables us to help the least among us and to do so justly.
Encouraging others to promote fair trade also requires acknowledging others who help us locally, those in the greater community. As an example, the folks in and near Pella are fortunate to have Cheryl Newendorp at The Work of Our Hands shop who does outreach to local faith communities for volunteer opportunities or parish fundraisers.
We in the Davenport Deanery are likewise fortunate to have Becke Dawson at SIS International here in Davenport. Becke has been incredibly supportive of our efforts to promote fair trade, even going so far as allowing us to borrow merchandise for parish promotional displays.
We have the opportunity to help folks globally via fair trade. And for at least two locations in the Diocese of Davenport, we also have the opportunity to support local small business owners who have made achieving justice their business.
Kent Ferris
Social Action Director
Diocese of Davenport
