Local news from StateCollege.com and Centre County Partners. Read about Ten Thousand Villages State College Store to Close and more from the State College, PA region
Ten Thousand Villages State College location formed from humble beginnings, but the nonprofit is now planning an expansion project to grow in the community.
The organization has been raising money for the expansion for several months, and it finally exceeded its fundraising goal of $35,000 after the Centre Gives online donation event that was held from Tuesday morning to Wednesday night.
The store is now in the process of expanding into the empty storefront next door, according to fundraising chair Joel Weidner.
Ten Thousand Villages is a fair-trade nonprofit organization that sells handmade jewelry, mugs, home decorations and other goods sourced from artisans in developing countries.
Ten Thousand Villages State College is a nonprofit operating the only fair-trade retailer in the Centre County area. After two and a half years in its location at 1341 S. Atherton St., management felt the need to expand to be able to carry more products from makers around the world.
The Ten Thousand Villages organization is dedicated to its partnerships with artisans, creating a market for their handcrafted products and ensuring they make a fair living wage in safe working conditions
The State College store capital campaign, “Widening Our Village’s Circle,” has set a goal of $35,000 the help double the small store’s space by expanding into the adjoining, currently empty storefront.