So, what's a week look like?

There's an unbelievable amount of product that passes in and out of our little warehouse on 55 Main St. Petitcodiac!

When we began this endeavour end August much of our work was unpacking large shipments of product arriving by truck almost daily from New Hamburg.  Each item needed to be checked for damage and repacked into boxes that were then distributed among seven packages worth $40,000 or more each, being prepared for 32 fall sales. Lila King, volunteer from Virginia, is smiling at the large host of magnetic lady bugs that arrived in our shop one day. 

Dan and I have been involved with 3 sales now. Last weekend we were alone for the first time for a two day sale at marvelous St. Paul's Anglican Church in Charlottetown, PEI.  The island is famous, of course, for it's red sandstone.

There's a big learning curve for both of us as we arrive on site, assess our space quickly and begin to set up shop.  While Dan's on the truck supervising the unloading I'm getting the tablecloths on, assigning particular tables and beginning to unpack product.  There's quite a bit of pressure here, and my drive  for perfection is being seriously challenged!  We are very grateful when we have enough dedicated local volunteers to assist. 

What a wonderful thing when we're able to hug at the end and know we've had a really successful event.  We are meeting so many wonderful, dynamic people.  Madonna ( in red) is true to her name, in sense of mission to her community.  She and her husband, who is grounds keeper at St. Paul's, live above the church hall and she opens her heart and the church doors wide to whoever comes.  She tells me that her church has been "marked" by the street folk as a safe place to come. 

During the week now (we usually have Sunday and Monday off) we are unpacking what has been hastily repacked, going over product again, repacking and preparing again for the next round.

October 1 is Ten Thousand Villages 65th anniversary date. 

Lila King (here from Virginia with husband Ron) remembers when Edna May Byler, the early founder (1946) of this whole business, came around to her father's church in Wisconsin, with her trunk load of embroidery and crafts from Puerto Rico. 

Well, along with the labour comes friendship and laughter.  And Dan certainly does his best to help...