Christmas Market with a Difference is back! This is our 36th and final Christmas Market With a Difference. Market days and times this year are Friday, November 3rd (10am-6pm) and Saturday, November 4th (10am-3pm). If you are interested in volunteering to work at the market, please email Gail McPeek at gail.a.mcpeek@gmail.com.
Participating organizations this year this include Artists for Soup (Nicaragua), Association for Craft Producers (Nepal), Church World Service, Circus Zambia, Cocoa Farming Future Initiative (Grenada), Friends of Oaxacan Art (Mexico), Partners in Global Change (Tysea Orphanage, Haiti), Koinonia Farm (Georgia, USA), Mil Milagros (Guatemala), Q’ewar Project (Peru), SERRV, Shimena Weaving Friendships (Ethiopia), Tuko Pamoja (Kenya), UNICEF, and Zienzele Foundation (Zimbabwe).
PLEASE COME AND SHOP and help us celebrate our 36th and final year!
Click HERE for a map of the Dartmouth campus and available parking for the Market.
Proceeds from Christmas Market with a Difference are returned to the artisans producing the crafts sold, and to nonprofit charitable organizations making a significant impact in the lives of families in need worldwide.
To receive a timely annual email reminder for the Market, please contact us at info@ccdcucc.org.
OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
Artists for Soup
Using agro-ecology and art, Artists for Soup collaborates with Nicaraguan women to engage their communities in improving food security, nutrition, and care for the earth. With a demonstration garden site on the Indigenous reservation in Corozo, the organization maintains a 44-plot biointensive teaching garden and a connecting workshop space, and works with nutrition and environmental programs in public schools, family and church groups, and in a women’s prison. In addition, it maintains a 35-plot garden at a public school in Leon for children with disabilities.
For more information: https://artistsforsoup.org
Association for Craft Producers—Nepal
The Association for Craft Producers (ACP) a nonprofit fair trade organization founded in 1984 with the goal of helping low income Nepali women gain social mobility by creating a market for their goods and providing a workplace free of exploitation. With just 38 producers and five full-time staff members at its inception, ACP has grown to over 800 artisans (90% female) and 60 full-time staff members. In addition to providing design, marketing, management, and technical services to low-income Nepalese craft producers, ACP is a resource to advance and globally distribute their work, for which they receive fair wages and generous benefits, including education for their children.
A note from our ACP Nepal sales team: Our online sale of ACP goods has concluded for this year. Thank you to everyone for your purchases. Please visit us at next year’s Christmas Market with a Difference.
Cocoa Farming Future Initiative
Founded in 2011, in the wake of two devastating hurricanes that wiped out farms and trees, Cocoa Farming Future Initiative supports the cocoa-growing community and promotes sustainable agriculture on the island of Grenada. By supporting the farmers, CFFI helps to conserve biological diversity and protect the source of some of the world’s best-tasting cocoa beans. CFFI also supports a Crafts Cooperative which offers women a supportive environment where they can earn money and learn skills, from designing, creating and packaging crafts to pricing, displaying and selling them.
For more information: https://www.cffigrenada.org
To shop: https://www.cffigrenada.org/online-store-1
To donate: https://www.cffigrenada.org/donate
Partners in Global Change
Tysea Orphanage, Haiti
This recently-formed nonprofit was started by Paul Foster (psychologist and Norwich, VT resident) to fund the Tysea Orphanage in Jacmal, Haiti for the foreseeable future. The annual cost of running the orphanage is approximately $70,000.
Once located in Port au Prince, the extraordinary violence and political instability, increasing costs, and the loss of infrastructure throughout Haiti, have had grave consequences for the orphanage. Because living in Port Au Prince became far too dangerous and unstable, its founder along with orphanage director Marcel Jean, made the decision to move the orphanage to the beauty and relative safety of Jacmel in 2021. Unfortunately, after helping fund the move to Jacmel, its founder and sole sponsor of Tysea encountered problems which meant she would be unable to continue her support of the orphanage past 2022. She returned to Belgium. Keeping Tysea open and its wonderful children off the mean streets of Haiti, now depends entirely upon us.
To learn more about the orphanage and children
https://partnersinglobalchange.com/
Koinonia Farm
Koinonia is a Greek word meaning “communion” and is often translated as “community” or “fellowship.” Koinonia Farm was founded in 1942 as an intentional Christian community and farm in Georgia, with the belief that communion, community, and fellowship was for everyone— regardless of race, class, gender, religion, or anything else. In the early decades of its existence, the farm was the target of violence; some were suspicious of its “radical” philosophy of inclusion and commitment to racial equality, pacifism, and economic equity cut fences. They attempted to force the farm to shut down by chopping down fruit trees, pouring sugar into gas tanks, shooting at the farm as they drove by, and even bombing its roadside stand. But the community responded with prayer, nonviolent resistance, and a renewed commitment to live the Gospel.
The community farm has survived bullets, bombs, and boycotts of the mid-century and went on to launch Habitat for Humanity and many other projects and ministries. The life and work of the farm is funded through donations and purchases of their wonderful pecan, peanut, fair-trade chocolate, granola, jams and other products sold through their online store.
For more information: https://www.koinoniafarm.org
To shop: https://koinoniafarmstore.com
Mil Milagros
Mil Milagros (“A Thousand Miracles”) is a non-profit organization that helps indigenous Guatemalans improve health and education in their communities. In rural Guatemala, where 80% of indigenous people live in poverty and 70% of the children are chronically malnourished, Mil Milagros equips parents and teachers with the skills and resources necessary to implement and sustain high-impact early childhood development, nutrition, health and hygiene, and education and literacy programs. Mil Milagros recognizes that helping children to grow up healthy, well-nourished, and literate starts with empowering people— especially women— to catalyze change in their families and communities. Since its founding in 2007, Mil Milagros has improved the lives of more than 45,000 rural Guatemalans.
For more information, visit https://www.milmilagros.
Shimena: Weaving Friendships
Shimena, formerly known as Jano Handicrafts, is a socially responsible enterprise located in the Southern Rift Valley of Ethiopia that produces hand-woven textile products using locally-sourced raw cotton. Founded in 2014 by Firew Konjo Aba with initial funding from USAID, Shimena’s mission is to preserve the 2000-year-old Ethiopian art of weaving while creating a future of sustainable jobs for people in the region. Shimena weavers use traditional looms and tools made of collected bamboo and eucalyptus branches to produce traditional hand-woven scarves, throws, beach wear, bed covers, and table linens. Cooperation with reputable fair-trade organizations enables Shimena to pay reasonable wages to its artisans and workers, much higher than the national average. Although weaving is traditionally a job for men in Ethiopia, Shimena has created job opportunities for women in spinning cotton and finishing textiles, recruits and instructs women in weaving, and encourages women’s entrepreneurship through training programs and by helping families send their children to school.
For more information, visit their Instagram or view this YouTube video.
UNICEF
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) works in more than 190 countries and territories to improve the lives of children and families worldwide— providing immunizations and disease prevention, administering treatment for children and mothers with HIV, enhancing childhood and maternal nutrition, improving sanitation, promoting education, and providing emergency relief in response to disasters. The UNICEF market works directly with artisans in Asia, Africa, and Latin America to offer a wide array of handcrafted products— cards, gifts, home décor, fashion, jewelry and more.
For more information: https://www.unicefusa.org/
Friends of Oaxacan Folk Art (FOFA)
Friends of Oaxacan seeks to preserve and promote the rich folk art traditions of Oaxaca, Mexico, which have been passed on from generation to generation, often over hundreds of years. FOFA was formed in 2007 by a group of American writers, art historians, educators, gallery owners and collectors, united by a common concern for the protection and promotion of Oaxaca’s indigenous folk art traditions. In recent decades, these traditions have faced an uncertain future, with increasing numbers of young Oaxacans seeking more stable livelihoods and migrating from their villages to urban settings. We work with young artists, ages 35 and under, to help them make a sustainable living while they keep traditional techniques, including weaving, ceramics and wood and bone carving. All proceeds are invested back in Oaxacan in educational-based programs to nurture the next generation of folk artists.
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Church World Service
Founded in 1946, Church World Service (CWS) is a cooperative ministry of 37 Christian denominations, providing sustainable self-help, development, disaster relief, and refugee assistance around the world. The mission of CWS is to eradicate hunger and poverty and to promote peace and justice at the national and international level through collaboration with partners in the U.S. and abroad.
“Best Gift” is CWS’s “alternative gift” program, which provides the opportunity for donors to “buy” charitable gifts for those in need— such as chickens for a family in Tanzania, a doctor’s visit for a child in Indonesia, counseling for a victim of gender-based violence in Nicaragua, a water filter for a home in Cambodia, or toys for refugee children in the U.S. If you wish to give in the name of a friend, relative, or associate, you can opt to receive a card to let the recipient know that a gift has been purchased on their behalf— or you can print one for yourself at home. CWS is recognized as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, so your gift is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
To browse the Best Gift catalog: https://cwsbestgift.org
Circus Zambia
Circus Zambia is a non-profit circus company founded by four young people from Chibolya— a township in the Lusaka Province of Zambia infamous for its extreme poverty and high levels of crime, violence, and alcohol and drug abuse— that uses circus training to engage youth in the community and help them unleash their potential and become change makers in society. Circus Zambia equips young people in the community with life and social skills, and provides them with educational support and job opportunities. Besides circus training, youth have access to school support and funding, additional academic tutoring, mentoring, and life skills coaching, as well as access to a network of partner organizations providing free medical services, scholarships, HIV/Aids support, and expanded mentorship in their field of interest.
For more information or to donate directly to Circus Zambia, visit its website at www.circuszambia.org, or connect with the organization on Facebook at www.facebook.com/
Q’ewar Project
The Q’ewar Project, founded in 2002, is a social and economic initiative working with indigenous women in the Quechua community of Q’ewar in southern Peru. Located in the rural highlands of the Andes Mountains, the project offers local women the opportunity to learn skills and earn a stable income through the creation of beautiful dolls and woolen items.
Q’ewar Project products are sold locally through Lukana’s Dream, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Bethel VT. Donations to Q’ewar may be sent to Lukana’s Dream, P.O. Box 17, Bethel, Vt 05032. A Lukana’s Dream website will be coming soon.
SERRV
SERRV International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, alternative trading organization operating in the U.S., Africa, Asia and Latin America. As one of the first fair trade initiatives worldwide, and a founding member of the World Fair Trade Organization and the Fair Trade Federation, SERRV follows the internationally recognized fair trade principles of fair wages, gender equality, long-term relationships, concern for the environment, democratic decision making, safe working conditions, respect for culture, and prohibition of child exploitation. SERRV currently works with 85 small-scale, cooperatively run producer groups in 35 countries— working to empower small-scale global artisans and farmers through long-term trading partnerships, helping them to achieve sustainable employment and build resources in their communities.
To shop online: https://www.serrv.org
To donate to SERRV: https://www.serrv.org/product/donate-today/give-to-serrv
Tuko Pamoja
Tuko Pamoja (“We Are Together” in Swahili) is a socially conscious enterprise supporting roughly 170 women in eight self-help groups in Kenya. It purchases crafts from artisan groups at full fair-trade price, and sells them at home parties, church bazaars, and festivals in the U.S. All proceeds are returned to the artisan groups to pay for children’s school fees, food and shelter, and supplies to make more crafts.
The focus of Tuko Pamoja during the Covid-19 pandemic has centered on its Feeding Program. Since April, profits have been directed toward feeding over 600 women and children, in an effort to sustain them through this trying time until they can return to work and become self-sufficient again. Every purchase you make helps feed a family in Kenya.
For more information and to shop: www.tuko-pamoja.com
Or visit on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tukopamoja.wearetogether
Zienzele Foundation
For more than 20 years, the Zienzele Foundation has been helping to support AIDS orphans and their caregivers in some of the poorest villages in Zimbabwe. The making and sale of traditional baskets has provided income for women’s groups to support themselves and pay school fees for over 1,000 orphans. There are now 46 basket-making groups, plus 54 garden projects and 9 sewing groups.
For more information: https://www.zienzelefoundation.org
To shop: https://www.zienzelefoundation.org/basket-shop
OUR HISTORY
Since 1987, Christmas Market with a Difference has offered our congregation and the surrounding community the opportunity to purchase handcrafted goods from nonprofit fair trade and charitable organizations around the world.
We like to say that the “difference” between our Market and other holiday markets is that ours is not a fundraiser for our church; 100% of the proceeds are returned directly to organizations helping people in need worldwide— from here in the Upper Valley to as far away as Nepal and Zimbabwe.
Last year, the Market brought in $79,044 for the twenty participating organizations, and an additional $1,785 in Café sales. Over the years, Christmas Market with a Difference has raised a total of over $1.5 million for the participating nonprofit organizations.
The history of CCDC’s Christmas Market with a Difference goes back to 1987, when it grew out of the work of the Outreach Board of our Church. The idea, as proposed by church member Jean Sibley, was to provide a market for sweaters made by three knitting cooperatives— two in economically depressed areas in Korea and Nepal, and one right here in New Hampshire. The Market was to be a service to these groups and not a fundraiser for the church.
It was decided to include both Heifer International and the nonprofit, fair-trade retailer SERRV in the first Christmas Market. With only three months to prepare, and with the help of many willing hands under the leadership of Jean Sibley and Associate Pastor Margot Pickett, the 1987 Market was a rousing success, raising almost $7,000 for the knitters, $2800 for SERRV, and $750 for Heifer International.
In 1988, under the leadership of Susan Barton, the Market was expanded to include Koinonia Partners, Cadagren Co-op, Mabel Roberts toys, and a book sale. The next year, Pueblo to People and Upper Valley Hospice were added as partner organizations.
Each year the roster of partnering non-profit organizations grew, and with each new chair, innovations were implemented and changes made to improve the operation of the Market.
In 2001, church volunteers began to provide donated soups and baked goods to sell to shoppers at a new Christmas Market Café. From that point onward, proceeds from Café sales have been used to fund the operating and advertising expenses of the Market.
Over the years, more than forty organizations have participated in Christmas Market with a Difference. Many of these groups represent women’s cooperatives that use their earnings to support themselves and their children. Other organizations sponsor schools, orphanages, and group homes for the mentally ill or survivors of abuse. Recently, market organizers have strived to include organizations promoting environmental conservation and sustainability, as well as groups serving immigrants and refugees at home and abroad.
One of the most wonderful aspects of this long-time church tradition is that our entire congregation pulls together to make it happen. Volunteers help prepare soups and baked goods for the Market Café, move furniture to make room for the sale, put up signs, set up displays, greet patrons, assist shoppers on the salesfloor, check out customers, and then clean everything up when the three days of sales are over. Each year, over 150 volunteers cover over 300 different volunteer shifts to make the Market a success… and we have great fun doing it!
Christmas Market with a Difference Chairpersons:
1987 Jean Sibley
1988-1991 Susan Barton
1992-1993 Marie Elise Young
1994-1996 Sally Foss
1997-1999 Joan Schaafsma
2000-2001 Joan Schaafsma & Jane Meador
2002 Jane Meador
2003 Jane Meador & Nancy Emslie
2004-2005 Nancy Emslie
2006-2008 Corinne Fortune
2009-2011 Sae-Im Smith
2012- 2014 Amy Tietjen Smith
2015-2016 Sarah Nordstrom
2017 Sarah Nordstrom & Emily Dentzer
2018 Emily Dentzer
2019 Emily Dentzer & Gail McPeek
2020 Emily Dentzer & Gail McPeek
2021 Emily Dentzer & Gail McPeek
2022 Emily Dentzer & Gail McPeek
2023 Emily Dentzer & Gail McPeek
Comments from our Partners in 2019
“Another wonderful Christmas Market With a Difference! You all have been so kind and attentive; I am in awe of the huge heartfelt community that offers themselves to our Fair Trade and charitable projects every year. I’ll be happily reporting on the fair at our Aruna Partnership board meeting this weekend. Thank you from us all, and our Indian friends. They were happy to see the pictures that I posted on Facebook.”
-Deborah Cake, Aruna Partnership
“Thank you so much for having us this year. It was a blessing! Please keep me in mind for next year and let me know what I need to do… I haven’t mentioned to Julio about the sale. I want it to be a surprise. I know he will be so happy to receive the money in time for Christmas!”
– Jan Hebert, Q’ewar Project
“It was wonderful being at your market, everything about it, I enjoyed.”
“Thank you for all your efforts, I hope you have had some nice down time lately.”
“I hope to be invited back next year!”
– Eloise Ginty, Hearts You Hold
“It was another GREAT event thanks to what seems like a well oiled machine!”
“Thanks so much and Happy Holidays!”
-Nancy & Jim Clark, Zienzele Foundation
“We really appreciate all the work that goes into supporting the nonprofits who come to the market… Thank you too for helping accommodating our leaving the fair early and helping make it possible for us to keep the table running while we were away. As always, we really enjoyed being with all of you. Thanks for all the work you do to make this market possible.”
-Judy Nichols, Artists for Soup
“This is the first year that we’ve only sold the recycled products – no jewelry. So that [sales figure] represents sales on things that would all have been thrown away – That feels good! Thanks for all you guys do. It’s a great event.”
– Julia Dickenson, The Family Place
“I am very happy with this result! Thank you so much for inviting UVIP, UVRWG, and CoFIRED to participate. Thank you too for all of your help with making this a smooth and comfortable experience for us. The Market itself is such a meaningful way to shop for the holidays. It is wonderful that CCDC does this for the community… Also, kudos to the efficient and friendly van drivers who provided transportation to the event, making it so much easier for shoppers.”
– Kathy Becket, United Valley Interfaith Project
“Our many thanks to you and your Christmas Market team for enabling us, in one weekend, to raise $800 for the United Valley Interfaith Project’s Asylum & Sanctuary Support Fund. The CCD[C]’s Christmas Market is a marvelous ministry, generating so much support for so many causes. We are thankful that we were able to be a part of it! You’ve helped us give support for an Indonesian family of 4, a Zimbabwean genteman, and a Dartmouth graduate, who are all seeking asylum.”
– Mary Chin, UVIP Asylum Support Fund
“Thank you for your amazing volunteer efforts on behalf of all the wonderful artisans! I am always in awe of the generosity of time and effort put into the success of the market. Tuko Pamoja is so grateful for these efforts. Thank you for including us!”
– Karen Geiling, Tuko Pamoja
“I would like to thank you for letting us participate in the Marketplace again this year. It is greatly appreciated. With the funds from this sale we can send 3 young adults to school for a year to further their education. These are young people who thought they had no chance of furthering their education… Thank you again and have a blessed holiday season.”
– Janet Hall, Regenesis Project
“This is wonderful, and a blessing… Thank you for all you do!”
– Susan Langle, Sister Farm Market