Holiday Shopping Event at Pasadena Store Benefits Global Artisans and Local Animals

A beloved Pasadena fair trade retailer is joining forces with a local animal welfare organization to create a dual-impact holiday shopping experience next week.

Ten Thousand Villages Pasadena will donate 15% of proceeds to Pasadena Humane during a special shopping event on Wednesday, Dec. 4, featuring wine and light refreshments.

“We’re giving 15% of the proceeds that day. And anytime somebody comes in before the 24th of December and mentions Pasadena Humane, we give a donation to them,” store Manager Laurel Averill said.

The initiative builds upon an 18-year partnership between the two nonprofits, with Ten Thousand Villages serving as California’s first location of the fair trade retailer since 2006.

The ethically sourced retailer supports over 20,000 artisans across 38 countries, who are paid promptly and fairly with no child labor used, with women comprising 60 percent of the crafters.

“We are heavily into Nativities and Christmas ornaments… we’d love to highlight our items from the West Bank, which is really important right now because they need a lot of help,” Averill said.

The store at 567 S. Lake Ave. maintains partnerships with more than 130 artisan groups, offering jewelry, home decor, hand-knotted rugs, specialty foods and personal accessories with in-store and curbside pickup options.

“The more that people shop here, the more that we can buy because we are a nonprofit,” Averill explained. “It’s like helping two nonprofits in one event.”

The wheelchair-accessible and LGBTQ+ friendly space has earned a 4.8 out of 5 stars rating while serving as a community hub offering volunteer opportunities, fair trade education, and a Little Free Library.

The shopping event runs from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on December 4 at Ten Thousand Villages Pasadena, with donations continuing through Dec. 24 for customers who mention Pasadena Humane.