Unitarian Universalist Church supports Equal Exchange project

By LINDA M. LINONIS

linonis@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

In the coffee aficionado culture in America, who wouldn’t want to sample coffee blends with the interesting names of Love Buzz and Mind, Body and Soul?

They’re available, along with Colombian and French roasts, through the Equal Exchange project at Unitarian Universalist Church of Youngstown, 1105 Elm St. Regular 12-ounce bags are $8, and decaffeinated is $9 per bag.

In a recent church newsletter, it was noted that the Youngstown congregation is among the top 5 percent of interfaith group sales in Equal Exchange. That track record involved the church in the Red Cherry Challenge. The newsletter said the challenge is a “one-year initiative by Equal Exchange to help small coffee farmers confront the most urgent agricultural problems.”

For every pound of coffee bought by the church through May 31, Equal Exchange will donate 10 cents to the Red Cherry Challenge Fund. The Valley church has pledged to buy 485 pounds of coffee by the deadline; it already has bought 98 pounds. The goal is to raise $15,000 from all participants in the challenge.

Ellen Satre, a church member for 40 years, said she has handled the Equal Exchange Fair Trade project at the church for a decade.

“I’ve done a lot of traveling. I felt the project was in keeping with my beliefs and interests to help people and get a good-quality product,” she said. “Coffee farms are affected by climate change.”

The Rev. Matt Alspaugh, pastor, said the project meshes with the Unitarian belief “to respect the dignity of each individual.” “We support the Fair Trade principles so that coffee growers with small farms are treated fairly in the marketplace,” he said.

Satre said the Unitarian Universalist Church has partnered with Equal Exchange. “Fair Trade approach is a business method to include fair wages for producers around the world,” she said. “A living wage” for small farmers in South America, Africa and India who produce coffee, tea, cocoa and chocolate is the goal.

Satre said the project benefits small farmers around the globe, Unitarian Universalist Association’s social-service and member congregations. “It’s an interfaith project.”

The church member described the effort as a “win-win situation. ... You get a good-quality product, and you know you’re helping someone.”

To support the project by purchasing coffee, call the church at 330-746-3067.