Our SHOP to STOP human trafficking marketplace, featuring Fair Trade, B Corporations, Direct Trade, and ethically sourced goods was held last weekend at Rockpoint Church. We are grateful to them for another year of being able to use their space and their heart for wanting to see modern-day slavery eradicated.
Thank you to all the vendors, shoppers, and volunteers for coming out to the event. We could tell that people were having a great time getting to know the varying companies as well as taking home some goodies. If you missed out on the event, you will still be able to buy from several of the organizations and companies that were there. We highly recommend that you continually support them, since you will know that the sourcing down their supply chains is a breath of fresh air rather than oppressive.
With this event, we raised money for New Light Nepal, one of our partner organizations. They have a group of mothers who educate and spread awareness about human trafficking, developed a program to sponsor the education of young girls in Nepal so they don’t get lured into trafficking situations, and have outreach programs to help teach hard to reach communities to help train them how to recognize and prevent their communities from falling prey into traffickers’ hands.
Bridge of Faith has been to every one of our events and always shines in their interacting with the customers. If you are unfamiliar with what they do, they sell items that are Fair Trade and artisan made to help those in Awka, Nigeria. They have such creative and unique items that we hope you loved. We can’t help but smile when we see their display and items.
Pick me up Chocolates is created by one of Justice Network’s own. Christina has a passion to fight human trafficking, providing you with unique and delicious chocolates without the slave labor you’d find in the cacao fields. They are so delicious, and she is very talented!
Galana Coffee has directly sourced coffee beans from Honduras. They offer sustainable income for the farm community they work with in order to provide for their families and the neighborhood. They are devoted to bringing very fresh roasts to your favorite mug. We heard Doug trying to convert a few non-coffee drinkers by mixing the Fair Trade chocolate he was also selling with the coffee in order to adjust taste buds. Try it out.
Here There and EVERYwhere has items created by those who have survived multiple situations from domestic violence to sex trafficking. They believe in giving a way of economic freedom to the people they have taught skills to who make their products.
Mayamam Weavers is a Fair Trade Federation company that works with Mayan women from Guatemala to help them out of poverty. The people who weave and make each item put in such precise details of beauty to the end results. The artisans’ families are able to receive education and scholarships. The colors are so vibrant and gorgeous!
Moo La La Catering: This is a tasty catering business devoted to showing up to events and donate to causes that are important to them. They make doughnuts, ice cream, popcorn, and more. We hope that you all tried some of their delicious food and will hire them for your upcoming events!
Noonday Collection is a Fair Trade Federation B-Corp company that works with artisans around the world who live in communities in need of jobs. They put artistry into each design and are bringing beauty from the 16 countries they have businesses in. They provide scholarships for children to support their education growth.
Organic Bread of Heaven is a company with handmade sourdough bread, buns, challah, rolls, bagels, and more that you can order to be shipped to you in order to help your health, as there are not crazy ingredients added to it like storebought breads. It is the healthiest option and is delicious too! The family that runs and makes this bread is committed to seeing oppression and human trafficking end in our world, just one loaf at a time! Hope you ate a sample and bought some.
Ornaments 4 Orphans is a Fair Trade Federation organization and company that helps people in Africa & Asia who are vulnerable to many issues in their communities as well as helping orphans. They have prevention programs and make job opportunities for people around the world by teaching them to make ornaments. 70% of those in orphanages have a living parent, usually put in due to desperation of not having funds to provide for their child or a job opportunity (sometimes a human trafficking situation). This organization helps them out of such situations.
Seams Better has a love for transparency in their fashion. They give you quality items to support slow fashion and put an end to the issues you find with slave labor in fast fashion. You can buy directly from their site, but you can order a subscription box from them designed just for you through their partnership with brands that are dedicated to eradicating slave labor. The co-owners were at the event and were sweet as can be with much knowledge and passion in what they do.
Timeless Tallow uses beef tallow in their items to nourish the body in a healthy way filled with vitamins. Using it is like a superfood for your body. Everything used in the ingredients are ethically sourced. Hope that you were able to get a sample of its amazing abilities at the event and bought some of the products.
Trades of Hope provides fair wages for women in India, helps survivors of sex trafficking with businesses in Asia, helps the disabled in Kenya, and works in several other communities to end poverty and bring opportunities to them. These artisans make jewelry, bags, home decor, and clothing.
Young Living sells essential oils and non-toxic cleaners to help fight germs and illness. They are a company that has been fighting human trafficking for such a long time. They run a foundation that helps survivors of both labor and sex trafficking. In addition, their products are made ethically and sustainable.
Gina Cavallo, advocate, speaker, and survivor of human trafficking has written a book about her story. We are hopeful that everyone reads her book and learns how they can make a difference in their communities to spread awareness that slavery does exist. Buy her book “A Survivor’s Secrets” today!
The NJ Coalition Against Human Trafficking is an organization that is great for spreading awareness, putting on events, giving speeches, and is dedicated to helping educate parents about preventing their children from being lured in by traffickers. They do so much around New Jersey and we are always glad at the work they do.
