For over 20 years the Ottawa Mennonite Church has been hosting an annual Ten Thousand Villages (formerly Self Help Crafts of the World) sale during the month of November. Ten Thousand Villages provides fair income to Third World people by selling their handicrafts and telling their stories in North America. The Ten Thousand Villages Festival Sale at the Ottawa Mennonite Church operates every Friday and Saturday in November. A tea room serving sandwiches, borscht, desserts, tea and coffee is also part of the sale on Saturdays.
This project is made possible with the support of many local volunteers from both the church and the larger community who help with the set up of the sale and the selling the products. One or two full-time volunteers who can be available on a regular basis during the week are also needed to help ensure the smooth running of the sale.
Sale coordinators will provide support and direction to the full-time volunteer(s). Duties include: Receiving shipments, helping to unpack the product and store packing materials (boxes, bubble wrap, crates, etc.), assisting with set up of sale areas, assisting with the actual sale on Fridays and Saturdays, helping to organize the final pack up at the end of the sale. Please note some heavy lifting may be required. Meals are provided for all volunteers during the sale hours.
One to two people are needed from late October to the end of November for approximately 25-30 hours per week, although there is flexibility in dates and hours. Previous Ten Thousand Villages experience is an asset, but not essential.