“Justice here and justice everywhere” — that’s the thinking behind First Congo’s Global Goods shop, says Jackie Nerren, who coordinates the store’s happenings. “We sell stuff that is certified fair trade,” she says. “All the goods have been made under healthy circumstances by adults who are paid a fair wage in the country they come from. Almost all our stuff comes from third world countries, and it’s usually recycled, reused, repurposed materials. We only have one supplier in the states — the [social enterprise] Women’s Bean Project in Denver.”
Because of ongoing renovations, the shop has recently only been open on Sundays, but this Saturday, Global Goods is having an open house and its full stock will be out and ready for the taking. The store will sell bean soup mixes from the Women’s Bean Project, children’s sweaters from Ecuador, wall art made from oil cans in Haiti, baskets from Ghana, and other handmade goods, mostly made by women. “We also sell [Blessed Bees] honey that’s actually made at our church from bees that live in hives on the roof,” Nerren says. “And we sell some fig jam made by a couple at our church.”
The shop’s prices are reasonable, Nerren adds. “We don’t have to make a profit. We barely mark stuff up. It’s pretty nice to be able to help people all over the world. You get cool stuff, and we want people to be able to buy it.”
Global Goods takes cash, card, and checks. After perusing the shop, Nerren suggests heading over to the Cooper-Young Community Farmers Market, which is held in the church’s parking lot. “Then you can go eat brunch somewhere on Cooper-Young,” she continues. “See? I’m just planning a great day for you.”
Global Goods Annual Holiday Open House, Sanctuary of First Congregational Church, 1000 S. Cooper, Saturday, November 13, 10 a.m. -2 p.m.