Not too long ago I was at a fundraising event with some friends. A great deal of money was raised in just a few hours, with more pledged to follow in just a few days time. It was really exciting to witness, and as the evening was drawing to a close, one of my friend’s looked at me and said, “It’s amazing what can happen when people actually give a care.” This statement really stuck with me, though not for the reasons you might think. It stuck with me because, in my case, it’s not true.
I’ve always been blessed with incredible friends. If it’s one thing I ever did right, it was the people I chose as my friends. And my friends have done wondrous things. They are givers. They’ve given to me, their friends and family, and many times, even strangers. The people I know and consider to be my friends do, in fact, actually give a care. Many of them may be broke for this very reason. 😉
Some of my friends have raised money with athletic organizations like Team in Training. Some have gone on local, regional, national and even international mission trips. Some have served in churches or shelters or political campaigns or soup kitchens or at nonprofits or animal hospitals or as mentors. They all have given days, but I can easily name those who’ve given weeks, months or years, cumulatively speaking. It would take more than my four extremities, actually, to name them. They give their money, their time, their talents and their influence.
A few summers back I distinctly remember getting close to 10 letters and emails from friends raising money for something. Note: this period was just a couple of months. I was freaking out trying to think of how I could send money to each of them because I wanted them to succeed. I’ve grown to realize that these letters and emails will be a regular occurrence for me. AT LEAST one of my friends will always be raising money at any given time. And that statement makes me smile.
I don’t say all of this just to brag on my friends, though they deserve it. While the frequency in which I receive these requests may be greater than yours, we all still suffer from a common syndrome at one time or another: compassion fatigue. (No, I didn’t make that term up.) Sometimes needs are presented to us so often that they can easily become 1) exhausting or 2) white noise. We give to all, some, or none. But couple these personal requests with what we see on the news, internet and radio, and it can quickly and easily become an emotional overload.
I would urge you to push through the compassion fatigue. There are times I give to causes just because my friends ask, not because I particularly am passionate or invested in the cause. And that’s ok. When I have the funds available to do that, I will do so happily. I want to support them in what they care about, and encourage them to keep at it. We all don’t have to care about the same things. Just care about something. And better yet, give part or all of your heart to it. Don’t just send a check, though those are always good, but personally invest your time, talents and influence as well. When we give a care, we are acknowledging that life exists outside of us. We gain a greater perspective of the world. We become good citizens of it. I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t want to make a difference, large or small. Giving a care is one way of doing that. Champion a cause and see how your life can change for the better. Realize that there’s more going on than just you. Understand that everything on this planet is not put here to serve you, but instead, serve the planet in some capacity. It won’t be a waste of your time, I promise.
Try different causes and see what fits. What makes you happy? What breaks your heart? Where do you see a need you can fill just by being you? What fuels your passion? For me, my two biggies are my faith and modern-day slavery. Both have taken over my heart like nothing else. I champion them because I can’t help myself; I feel compelled. What compels you?
Go on. Give a care.
(And if you need some help finding it, I’m happy to help you explore!)
I’ve become a little obsessed lately with finding chocolate that is safe to buy…meaning no slave labor was used to create it. If you are new to the chocolate controversy, you can read more about it at the CNN Freedom Project. Luckily, more and more companies are cleaning up their acts. But until you know for sure, it’s good to do your homework.
I know that fair trade items are good options, as are many organic items, but outside of that I wasn’t sure. And I was especially concerned with store brands since they are less expensive and becoming more prevalent. Chocolate bars are easy enough to find, but baking chocolate, chocolate chips and other forms are much more difficult to locate in organic or fair trade form.
So, I decided to check in with the four places I typically buy groceries, including my beloved cocoa-flavored treats. And here’s what they had to say:
PUBLIX
Dear Ms. Porter,
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We regret that we have failed to meet your expectations. We would never knowingly disappoint our customers. We appreciate the trust you have placed in us to rectify the situation.
Our current supplier is ADM. However, we will be moving to a new supplier very shortly. The new supplier is Barry Callebaut. No cocoa beans are grown domestically. Cocoa comes from a variety of warm climates including parts of Africa and Mexico. Neither our current or incoming suppliers exploit their workers.
Our chips are not organic and neither are they Fair Trade. Fair Trade is an organization that promote fair treatment for the farm workers in underdeveloped countries. Our supplier promotes their own community with the farmers who supply their beans much like Fair Trade.
Barry Callabaut has a number of programs which they could speak about more fully than we can. They have local representatives who visit the farms personally and check on the welfare of the workers. The Publix bakery also uses Barry Callabaut.
If we may be of further assistance in this matter, please do not hesitate to contact our customer care specialist at 1-800-242-1227. You may also contact us via email at http://www.publix.com/contact or write us at Publix Super Markets, Inc., P.O. Box 407, Lakeland, FL 33802, ATTN: Customer Care. Please be sure to reference your case identification number noted above. We look forward to serving and meeting all your future needs.
Sincerely, Tainia in Customer Care
KROGER
Our stores offer more than two dozen Fair Trade Certified products, including different varieties of coffee, tea and chocolate. These products are usually found in our natural food departments and nutrition centers, depending on the store.
We first brought Fair Trade products to our stores in 2000, and we continue to search for certified products that are of interest to our customers. Though there are limited suppliers of these products, our buyers work with both large and small companies to ensure the best selection possible.
Fair Trade is an approach to sustainable development that can help family farmers in developing nations gain better access to international markets. Proponents of Fair Trade believe that farmers who learn how to market their own harvests are in a better position to build their own businesses and earn a fair price for their products. This, in turn, may lead to higher family living standards, stronger communities and more sustainable farming practices in developing countries. A Fair Trade Certified label on a product serves as a guarantee that the item has been grown and produced by farmers and workers who received what is considered by the certifying organization to be a fair price for that product.
Most coffee, tea and chocolate in the U.S. that is Fair Trade Certified also is certified to be organic and shade-grown. This means that the products are grown under conditions designed to support biodiversity, provide shelter for migratory birds and help reduce global warming.
Sincerely, Christie Metropulos Consumer Affairs
TARGET
Dear Kristi Porter,
Thanks for taking the time to ask us about our Archer Farms Chocolates.
Our Archer Farms chocolates are a Target brand. Since the products are owned by Target, you can be sure that they live up to the high-quality standards you expect from us.Â
Helping to ensure the health and safety of guests and their families is our number one priority at Target. We recognize that Country of Origin labeling is important to our guests. Our buyers purchase food products from a variety of different vendors, who are required to comply with all United States labeling regulations, established by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Target also requires its vendors to comply with all U.S. Customs, North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) requirements.
While we do appreciate your interest and welcome your additional questions, I’ve let you know all the information that’s available to us. I’ll be sure to make your comments available to our Grocery team for review.
We look forward to showing you what’s new at Target.
Sincerely,
Thelma, Target Guest Relations
TRADER JOE’S
Dear Kristi,
Thank you so much for contacting us – we love hearing from our customers. Unfortunately, we cannot say exactly where a chocolate product is sourced without a product name or SKU #, as we source from so many different suppliers. That said, the majority of the chocolate we sell (and in the world) will ultimately come from either Africa (Tanzania, the Ivory Coast, etc.) or Colombia.
That said, the following are our thoughts related to the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act of 2010 (SB 657) and work done to address risks of human trafficking and slavery:
We have great concern for the rights of all who work to provide products sold in our stores. We address such matters in our agreements with our suppliers; in fact, the code of conduct in our agreements requires that our suppliers:
“…represent and warrant that the goods sold to TJ’s were produced, harvested, manufactured, processed, packaged, labeled, transported, delivered, and sold in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations of the United States of America and all of its subdivisions and, if applicable, the laws of any other country, state, or international governing body… that the goods sold to TJ’s were not produced, harvested, manufactured, processed, packaged, labeled, transported, or delivered using forced or prison labor or forced or illegal child labor.”
We monitor compliance with our agreement through scheduled and unannounced visits and audits of our suppliers’ facilities, using our own crew members and third-party groups. If any of our suppliers are found to be not in compliance with our agreement, we will terminate the relationship.
We hope this helps clarify things!
Best regards, Rachel Customer Relations Trader Joe’s
WHOLE FOODS
Hello Kristi,
Thanks for contacting Whole Foods Market. The cacao for the 365 Organic Chocolate Bars comes from several small cooperatives in Peru. After careful evaluation of several chocolate manufacturers, we decided to switch because we had more transparency in the supply chain. The company we are now working with is one of the few bean to bar manufacturers left in the world. This means that they source their own cacao and make their own liquid chocolate before manufacturing the bars and that our bars are manufactured specifically for us.
About 30 years ago, the owner of the facility realized that he would be pushed out of the business by larger corporations if he did not look for a more secure supply of cacao in some place other than West Africa. He traveled to South America and in Peru found a group of people that were willing to work with him based on organic and fair trade principles. At Whole Foods Market, we are highly selective about what we sell, dedicated to strict product quality standards, and committed to supporting environmentally friendly agricultural and production methods. This includes our commitment to sourcing cocoa from responsible and reputable sources.
The bakery items are produced regionally, so the chocolate used by our bakeries varies from region to region. The Team Members at your local store may be able to provide more information about the chocolate used in the baked goods in that location, or put you in touch with the Regional Bakery Coordinator.
Best regards, Carijane Grigsby-Etter Global Customer Information Specialist | Whole Foods Market
Overall, it was kind of a mixed bag of I received from these customer service teams. Kroger and Target skirted the issue a bit, but at least I got a response. I will not buy their store brand chocolate products. And overall, I feel better and more informed about my purchases in each of these five stores now. I’ll definitely ask my local Whole Foods about their chocolate when I’m there next as well.
Just wanted to make sure you were informed, too! Chocolate is one of the world’s greatest treasures, so let’s make sure everyone can enjoy it from harvest to happy bellies!
This morning I attended Not For Sale Georgia‘s quarterly meeting. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the three-day conference they hosted just a few weeks ago because it was opposite Orange Conference. But this quarterly meeting was a way to catch up on what’s happening here locally. There was a lot of really great information presented, as always, so I thought I’d recap a few points here for any of my fellow abolitionists who were unable to attend.
The Global Forum on Human Trafficking will take place on November 1-2, 2012. I’m really hoping to be able to attend this year as I think it would be an unforgettable experience.
Think slavery doesn’t touch your community? Take a look at slaverymap.org to see cases reported all over the world. Of course, these are only some of the cases that people have taken the time to input. There are thousands of others that go unreported or unrecorded on this map.
A guest speaker from Tapestri in Tucker spoke on their organization, mission, victim tragedies and survivor stories. It is an amazing organization doing incredible work. I need to look into them a little more. There seems to be a lot of great information on their site local to Atlanta and Georgia.
Orange Label Denim will be coming to Atlanta this year. It’s a sustainable denim company that will have fair labor practices. I’m excited to hear more about them as they launch. And they need to be at The Orange Conference with us next year!
There is a Trafficking in Persons app that you can download as an info source. This App is intended to provide training and reference material about the realities of Trafficking In Persons (TIP). This training was created by the Office Under the Secretary of Defense (OUSD) and is intended to increase public awareness of TIP, and to help serve to end it.
Out of Darkness was mentioned again, and it reminded me to check them out. I absolutely hate that Atlanta and Georgia rank so high in modern-day slavery incidents, but I’m always excited to hear how many organizations we have here dedicated to ending it.
Buying power was discussed as it has been before. We are all encouraged to “buy differently” meaning to support socially conscious brands. I have been trying to do more of this since working at Captain Planet Foundation but have incorporated it even more after becoming aware of modern-day slavery. One place you can check isFree2Work. Granted it is just getting off the ground so it’s a little limited now, but it’ll grow. Sometimes you just have to do a little leg work and research to trace a product’s supply chain. I have even sent emails to stores I frequent asking about their products and policies, as well as encouraging them to stock more of these items. It takes some getting used to, but it does get easier with time…just like taking your own grocery bags into the store. If you aren’t sure where it comes from and how it’s sourced and made, try not to buy it. It’s always a good rule of thumb to buy fair trade or organic products, though. I realize this action also takes getting used to because it is more expensive. But if it’s cheap, there may be a good reason for it. It could very well be exploiting the laborers. Chocolate is a great example. It’s taken a lot of effort to make this switch in my life because anything that contains cocoa or chocolate may be harmful, and that includes A LOT of items, speaking as a chocoholic. I know I spend a lot of money on groceries and other items comparatively due to these choices, but I really want to not only feel good about the products, clothing, etc, that I use but I also want to do good with it. I want to know I’m not harming another individual’s life due to choices that I can control. My purchase power gives me a big voice.
I also recently finished listening to Not For Sale, the book by David Batstone that launched the organization. You can read an excerpt here: NotForSale_Introduction. It’s a remarkable and eye-opening book. I highly recommend. The organization’s main website also serves as a great resource and also has a small store of products that support them. I’m really proud to support this group, and count myself as an abolitionist among them.
Ok, that’s it! There was more but these are the highlights in my opinion. Read up and get involved! We could use your help!
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1 NIV)
I’m not a Bible scholar. It took me a number of years to figure out the first sentence in that verse. For a long time, I thought the author had cheated and used the word in the definition. And now I certainly don’t profess that I have it nailed down, but over the last few years I have greatly grown in my understanding and appreciation for this verse.
As I get older I learn more and more what true freedom is all about. I heard a brilliant sermon many moons back where the speaker gave freedom in Christ this definition…it’s not the freedom to do anything you like. It’s the freedom to do anything you like under God’s law. You’ve already chosen God’s will and authority to guide your life, and you continue to choose to maneuver within it…or something like that but probably more poetic. The point is that your freedom has already been given to you. You decide what to do with it. So what will you do with it?
I’ve always had a special burden and ache in my heart for people groups who were oppressed, without freedom. I’m not sure exactly why; I guess it’s just the way God made me. I’d consider myself fiercely independent, so maybe the thought of losing that is too much to consider, or stand for. The Jews, Civil Rights, and modern-day slavery–it all just hits me in a way a lot of other atrocities don’t. It fascinates and confuses me. It makes me not only balk at the injustices that people can inflict or turn their eyes from, it constantly asks me what I would do; what I will do.
Over the last few months I’ve been studying Esther with my friend, Lauren. We’ve been going through Beth Moore’s study on Queen Esther, It’s Tough Being a Woman. Truthfully, I know this statement is borderline blasphemy, but I really don’t care for Beth Moore’s style. I’d tried one of her studies before and couldn’t even finish it. If Lauren hadn’t suggested it, I never would’ve opened it with that title. It’s just not for me. But I thought the overall content was really good, and I’ve taken away a lot of insight in the process. And it’s given me greater context for Esther’s story and the circumstances of the Jews at that time.
One of things I’ve been reminded of over and over again is that the Jews had assimilated into the culture. They were no longer living as Jews, God’s chosen people who were set apart. It was not until they were threatened with extinction did they kneel back down to pray. I don’t want to be like that, but darn it if that doesn’t describe me too much of the time. So, I ask myself, if I were living as a Jew at that time, would I be any different?
I also recently watched the movie Amistad. I don’t know how I’m just watching it. I should be ashamed. It was amazing. Nonetheless, yet again I’m presented with and captivated by a people who are oppressed, slaves. And there were bold and courageous people fighting on their side. So, I ask myself, if I were living at that time, what would I do?
But one thing I forget time and time again is that I have been a slave. Certainly not publicly oppressed or scoffed as the these people were, and as some people today are, but I was a slave to sin before I gave my life to Christ. Just as the Jews in Esther’s day, there is too much of life I’ve assimilated into when the truth is that I need to live more as a freed slave. My life of a slave is over, but it’s never to be forgotten.
The Jews had Purim, a time to annually remember the time God saved them from annihilation. And they partied. They still party. It’s a feast and festival, and time of joyful remembrance. And I have Easter, a day that marks not just the sacrifice, but the triumph over Hell with Jesus’ resurrection. Now that’s party worthy! I should be having that party every day in some way!
I know because I grew up as part of the church, which I’m thankful for, I have a great tendency to desensitize the Bible and my salvation. Like all things that aren’t new, and I love new things, I kinda forget how special they are. I kinda just take them for granted. I kinda just assimilate them into my life and move on, looking for the next shiny object to grab my attention.
There is a really powerful courtroom scene in Amistand where the highly underrated and always brilliant Djimon Honsou stands up and pleads to the court in the few words of English he’s learned in prison, “Give us, us freedom!” And he says it over and over again. (I balled like a baby. I’ve got to admit that there are times I’m just not in a good place and inside I’m yelling “Give us, us freedom!” I’m so confused and upset with God that I just don’t understand why I’m in a situation. But the truth is, I’m already a freed slave. My freedom has already been given. But how do I thank Him? How do I live? Why do I keep forgetting?
So I ask myself again, given what I know and who I am (a freed slave), what will I do?
I’ve decided that I will be a freed slave who works to free other slaves. As a Christian, I believe all freed slaves should be working to free others, both spiritually and physically. And I think we should assimilate less, and have Jesus parties a lot more.
Mental Post-Its 