St. Timothy Catholic Church to Host Market of Hope October 15

From St. Timothy Parish:

NORWOOD, Massachusetts, September 20, 2016 — St. Timothy Catholic Church and non-profit Market of Hope will team up to hold a charity market at 650 Nichols Street, Norwood, on Saturday, October 15, 9 AM – 3 PM. Market of Hope helps the world’s most vulnerable people lift themselves out of poverty. Shoppers at the Market of Hope will have an opportunity to purchase unique handmade items from 20+ countries while providing aid to organizations combatting extreme poverty and human trafficking, both in the United States and abroad. Admission is free.

Market of Hope will be traveling to Massachusetts for the first time for this market. Market of Hope began as a one-time Christmas shopping event in Texas in 2013, where$18,000 was raised through shopping. Since that time, Market of Hope has grown to host markets across the nation throughout the year. Parishioner and Norwood resident Toni Eosco saw the market in action in Texas and was inspired to bring it to St. Timothy’s. “I was so impressed by the beauty and quality of the products,” says Eosco, “and by how Market of Hope helps break the chains of poverty by providing individuals with a dignified way to earn a living.”

Items sold at Market of Hope include handcrafted jewelry, hand sewn bags and wallets, fair trade Ugandan coffee, organic home textiles, hand-poured natural body care products, African kitchen items, and children’s toys from many parts of the globe. Among the unique items sold at Market of Hope is a collection of wallets and coin purses hand-painted by a survivor of human trafficking named Mary. Market of Hope Co-Director Abby Pound says, “Mary, who lives in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, was a victim of significant abuse at the hands of her trafficker, and as a result is completely blind. She is now in the care of a great organization, Sak Saum, which means ‘for freedom’ in the local language. With her desire to be a productive member of society, Mary hand-paints fabrics that are then sewn into wallets and coin-purses to be sold at events like Market of Hope. It’s a great story of rescue, restoration and second chances at life.”

This year’s event will take place on the front lawn of St. Timothy’s, weather permitting, or in the church hall in the case of inclement weather. There will be coffee, cider, and baked goods for sale to enjoy as you shop, as well as activities for children. The market will be held from 9am to 3pm. Free parking is available on the church property.

Image via Pixabay.