India Needs Oxygen
Last summer, I wrote about how when an airplane is in crisis, you are directed to put on your oxygen mask before helping the person seated next to you. We are very fortunate to have the vaccine access that we do in this community, and as our collective oxygen mask gets more secure, we can look to our neighbors to see how we can help. It’s no secret to anyone who has spent time in our shop that a large portion of our fair trade inventory comes from India. As a result, I receive emails daily from several of our vendors, keeping us updated about their artisan partners. This morning I received one stating that India literally needs oxygen and other medical supplies to keep up the current COVID surge they are experiencing.
I am blown away by how the fair trade community has stepped up and come together to support communities in crisis. Many of our vendors have altered what they sell to enable artisan partners to continue working from home as artisan co-ops are closed. Others have set up aid funds to support their partners in India. So, how can we help? Rather than summarizing everything our vendors are doing, I have highlighted a few below so they can tell their own stories. In solidarity with Matr Boomie & Fair Anita, the Olive Branch will donate 10% of our year-to-date sales (Jan 1 - Today) from these two vendors. Funds will be equally divided between the two fundraisers listed below. I invite you all to support how you can by sharing these fundraisers widely with your networks, making a donation, and/ or shopping their products in the store.
Author: Carol Schwartz | JRPC, Fair Trade & Marketing Director
From Fair Anita
As most of you will know, India has been hit very hard with the pandemic in the last few weeks. As of now, the cooperatives we partner with are closed down for production for at least a couple of weeks.
We are utterly amazed that one of our partners has opened up their workshops to function as COVID relief centers. This shows how bad the situation is -- and how important cooperatives are in their communities - especially in times of crisis.
Our COVID relief fund is still open to donations: currently, any donations we receive will be sent to our partners in India to help get much-needed resources to our partners' communities.
Right now, we are asking you to partner with us, whether you have the means to donate yourself or are willing to share this link with others. For those who have donated to other organizations-- thank you! It's a community effort!
From Matr Boomie
In India, the COVID cases are continuing to surge and many people are suffering. There is currently a shortage of oxygen, hospital beds and other supplies that is particularly affecting many rural areas, including areas where most of our artisan partners reside. Because these rural areas do not have oxygen supplies, they are unable to admit COVID patients, leaving most patients stranded with no help or resources to fight this virus.
HOWEVER, there is a glimmer of hope.
With the help of local authorities in India, we will be creating an oxygen supply unit filled with oxygen concentrators, hospital beds, medical staff and supplies so that we can provide people with the support they need to fight for their lives. This is not any easy task as oxygen concentrators are in such high demand right now. Because of the demand, we need to raise $15,000 as soon as possible in order to start purchasing and arranging supplies to get to India.