Gannon Knight ArtsLeisure

     Fair trade isn’t just the cause of choice for musicians like Chris Martin and Bono. On Thursday, Gannon University students will also take part in the movement by holding a fundraiser benefiting Ten Thousand Villages, a nonprofit fair trade organization.
     Thursday is the second day of the sale, headed by Dr. Jeff Bloodworth, his freshman seminar class and the History Club. The “Global Garage Sale” began Tuesday, displaying wares from artisans from Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.
     Bloodworth, an assistant professor in the history department, said he had visited the Ten Thousand Villages store in Pittsburgh but didn’t know about the fundraiser aspect until his wife informed him.
     “Then it was as simple as sending an e-mail and picking up the phone,” he said. “And here we are; we have several thousand dollars worth of merchandise to sell.”
     Bloodworth said the students are running everything. They helped make fliers, set up the Facebook page and figured out where the proceeds will go. He said he will be there to make sure things go smoothly, but other than that, the students are in charge.
     Justin King, a freshman pre-pharmacy major, said Bloodworth’s freshman seminar class chose to work with Ten Thousand Villages because another student had done a similar fundraiser before.
     King said students should visit the fundraiser to support a good cause and pick up things one doesn’t see often.
     The products for sale range from purses and scarves to baskets and bookends. Bloodworth said the items are student-priced, ranging from $5 to $35.
     It’s worth it to visit the sale, Bloodworth said, because “you can’t find this stuff anywhere except at Ten Thousand Villages or by going to Burundi.”
     Becca Lenox, a freshman physician assistant major and member of the History Club, said the fundraiser is important because it makes people aware of fair trade options.
     By visiting the fundraiser, students will be helping the artisans who make the crafts, Bloodworth said.
     “Not only are you getting cool stuff, but the whole idea of fair trade helps support people in making a viable, stable income,” he said.
     The Ten Thousand Villages fundraiser continues 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Thursday in Room 219 of the Waldron Campus Center.
     Ten percent of the proceeds will go to the International Institute of Erie, 517 E. 26th St.; the rest will benefit Ten Thousand Villages.