In February I volunteered in New Windsor, Maryland at SERRV.  My friend Joyce suggested this organization because a) she’d enjoyed her volunteer experience there and b) it is a shopper’s paradise.  If you are a shopper who prefers the unique and varied over cookie-cutter shopping mall fare; and/or if you are a socially conscious consumer, this is your kind of venue.  Being more aware of the origin of your purchase has been in the news this week.  How can American consumers put their spending dollars to better use?  By choosing to buy American-made goods over imported ones.  Well, at SERRV you can do this and more.

REMEMBER ABC?  ALWAYS BUY COLORADO?

Since I’m from Colorado, I’ll start here first.  If you consider yourself to be a foodie, have you ever tasted soups from Denver’s Womens Bean Project?   The magic beans are used to transform women’s lives.  The Bean is where my volunteer journey began back in December 2008.  SERRV carries a full line of soups and can be purchased online here.  My favorite?  Organic Six Bean with added ground buffalo (which is locally raised). Or imagine whirled peas with the Beans Split Pea Soup.  Just add ham.

ALWAYS BUY AMERICAN – IT’S NEW AGAIN

Northward - check out wild rice from Northern Minnesota.  Hand-harvested by Native Americans on the White Earth reservation, this product is preservative-free and 100% wild rice, not a blend of rice and grains which is commonly available.  I am a big fan of wild rice and whenever I see the pure product, I buy it.  My favorite recipes come from Beth Anderson’s Wild Rice For All Seasons.  This cookbook is truly the best there is for wild rice.  Here’s a great recipe for health conscious gourmets from the book, taken from the Hungrymonster.com, Wild Rice Topping.

BESIDES SHOPPING….

As a volunteer, I was part of the quality control inspection team.  I made the solo journey to New Windsor from Bethesda, about an hour drive north and east.  I joined a group of seniors who travelled from York, Pennsylvania and we had a rousing good time unpacking, unfolding, pricing, re-folding and re-packing tea towels and aprons.  This group of men and women donate time on a monthly basis.  I found that many people participated at SERRV in this capacity. Another group of three female friends come from Martinsville, MD.  Without the service of volunteers, SERRV would be unable to operate.  Volunteer coordinator, Mary Ann Grossnickel, will put you to work.

BESIDES AMERICAN….

Volunteers are treated very well at the SERRV location.  Food is provided during work breaks.  Delicious chocolate bars were shared.  If you are all about the chocolate, this is the place to buy.  Witness this YouTube video about the chocolates.

The story behind the chocolate is rich.  Farmers in Ghana grow the cocoa beans which eventually become Divine Chocolates.  I love the raspberry and dark chocolate and there are other products to choose from.  Suggestions for pairing these bars with tea and wine, as well as a chocolate tasting guide are all here.   

IMAGINE WORLD PEACE

SERRV’s mission is to eradicate poverty wherever it resides by providing opportunity and support to artisans and farmers worldwide.  SERRV’s work and our purchases directly impact the global market in areas where income inequality and poor living conditions exist.  SERRV works to bring balance to the world. 

And they do this one product at a time, all over the world.  Olive Oil from Galilee, Israel.  Since 1996, Sindyanna of Galilee has been working with the Arab population.  Managed and founded by women, Sindyanna works in partnerships with Israelis and Palestinians restoring the Arab olive industry. Read more here.

However, it is more than just buying and selling.  SERRV aide comes in many forms:

·        Prepayments so suppliers and partners can sustain their businesses

·        New design creation so they can build their markets

·        New skills learning so they can develop their crafts

·        Providing grants so they can expand their resources

And in doing so, SERRV supports equal rights for women, guides sustainable development and pays a fair wage.  For 60 years, SERRV has been helping people around the world earn a living wage. 

NO ONE SAYS IT BETTER THAN SERRV

“SERRV with us and craft an experience that will reward every person it touches, and build a
sustainable style of life that’ll be enriching for us all.”  I agree.

Frequently asked questions about SERRV – click here.

This article is part of a monthly series about volunteer opportunities, varied and dispersed.  I show that anyone, anywhere can find a niche and help make the world a better place.  You can contact me directly at curious_volunteer at yahoo dot com.