Post Event Wrap Up

Festival of HOPE was beautiful in every way.  Over one hundred volunteers worked like a well-oiled machine to creative a festive fair-trade market place and feature our ministry partners throughout the weekend.  The whole experience was so satisfying, it was well worth the hard work and we are eager to do it again next year.

On Wednesday evening Almost 300 people heard the compelling story of how Agros development work transformed the lives of Diego and Theresa from Guatemala.  Many shared their newfound understanding and appreciation for our partnership with Agros and are grateful that Chapel Hill mission dollars are so strategically used.

On Thursday over 40 volunteers set up fixtures & cash registers, hung signs, unpacked and hauled away boxes, arranged the beautiful (and delicious) products from over 20 Fair Trade vendors, vacuumed the floor and shut the lights out.  We were ready in record time!

On Friday, volunteers were trained (ready to recite one of the five principles of Fair Trade upon questioning), doors opened, customers were greeted and treated, lots of old friends appeared and lots of merchandise disappeared.  Later in the evening many women enjoyed a lively Bollywood runway show featuring our fairly traded Punjammies.  With popcorn popping and pink lemonade pouring, we learned of our precious princess sisters in India being set free from the most horrible form of modern slavery.

On Saturday, fair trade friends came in and merchandise went out at a lovely pace.  Volunteers greeted, served samples, tended fitting rooms, cashiered and rearranged tables and shelves to fill in gaps left by happy customers.

On Sunday, Chapel Hill folks flooded the place (in spite of Pastor Marks “be content” sermon?) making quick work of their Christmas and “this is for a good cause” shopping.  Our featured ministries (Musalaha, Youth for Christ, Agros, Giving Tree and Romania) enjoyed the center of attention and launched our Gift of Hope donation season.  Our doors closed mid afternoon and a fresh crew of volunteers packed up a bit of left over merchandise, dismantled and put away fixtures and tables, took down signs, briefly stopped to grab a bite of pizza, vacuumed the floors, hauled the flattened boxes away to recycle, and turned the lights out.    Whew!  It was finished…almost.

Our festival generated $47,000, which correlates to the amount it takes to provide a living wage for 38 heads of households in the developing world.  Imagine that!  And each household is typically 6-8 individuals.  We made a positive impact and volunteers (all 124 of them) made that possible.

Opportunity to give continues as Gifts of Hope provide a unique way to gift give and support ministries that make a difference all year round.   You may purchase Gifts of Hope on Sunday morning or online.

We would like to especially thank Marlene Marcoe and Bev Jackson for Volunteer Coordination and hosting the Guest Center and Tom Metzdorf for coordinating the marketplace setup and tear down.  These key volunteer leaders provided invaluable help!