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Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers who serve Ten Thousand Villages have found it so rewarding that, for many, it's a life-long commitment. Ten Thousand Villages volunteers are engaged in nearly every aspect of our unique fair trade business, working in stores and at our home office and warehouse. Ten Thousand Villages also relies on committed groups of volunteers to organize and run festival sales for local religious and community groups.
Our volunteer programs are structured yet flexible, allowing people to give of their time and talents in ways that suit their lifestyles. From sorting merchandise to sharing artisan stories with customers, from processing orders to assisting store management, each of our volunteers plays an important role in creating sustainable employment opportunities for artisans in Third World countries.
Volunteer at a Ten Thousand Villages Store
Volunteers are vital to the day-to-day operation of Ten Thousand Villages stores. Our
store teams welcome volunteer involvement and work with each volunteer to create meaningful
opportunities that fit individual interests and skills. Store volunteers may work one or
more days on a weekly or monthly basis depending on their interest and availability.
Because each Ten Thousand Villages store coordinates its own volunteer program, we encourage
you to contact the store manager directly to inquire about volunteer opportunities at your
local store. Contact information is available in the
stores and festivals section of our Web
site.
Volunteer at Ten Thousand Villages
Home Office and Warehouse
Ten Thousand Villages also has opportunities for volunteers to work at our warehouse in Brownstown, Pa. and occasionally in our home office located two miles down the road in Akron, Pa. Volunteers can work on a short-term (3-4 month), weekly, monthly or one-time basis. Short-term (3-4 month) volunteers work in a number of capacities throughout the year, mainly in the shipping operations of our warehouse during the busy fall and winter seasons. They work full-time and receive housing, lunch and a modest monthly stipend. Occasionally, there are also opportunities for volunteers to work on short-term assignments in our home office.
For individuals and groups wishing to volunteer locally for a few hours or more we have opportunities to assist with merchandise processing (opening boxes, counting items, checking for damage and preparing for shipment to our stores) at our Brownstown warehouse.
If you are interested in a volunteer opportunity at Ten Thousand Villages home office or warehouse, please contact humanresources.us@tenthousandvillages.com.
For volunteer opportunities in Canada, contact Ten Thousand Villages Canada.
It's About Work, Fellowship, Fun...and Giving Back
Abe and Viola Fehr of Altona, Manitoba served as short-term volunteers at our warehouse.
When Abe retired three years ago, the couple began looking for ways to give back.
"We've been very blessed, very fortunate," Viola recalls. "Volunteering is
our way of returning what we've received." After three volunteer assignments, Viola
as an order picker, Abe as an order packer, Abe reflects on their experience with
Ten
Thousand Villages. "It's about the people. When we watch videos of the artisans
we're helping, it makes it all worthwhile." We suspect the lasting friendships
they've developed had something to do with it as well.
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