Warren Kraft
Staff Reporter
SERRV: A nonprofit organization with a mission to eradicate poverty wherever it resides by providing opportunity and support to artisans and farmers worldwide.
From delicious chocolates to beautiful hand woven baskets, Serrv International sees it as their obligation to make sure that these products are sold at the right price, and that the people who craft them earn the profit they deserve for producing such incredible goods.
Serrv International is a non-profit organization, based out of New Windsor, Maryland, that has been around for over 60 years, they specialize in fair-trade. The organization is very prosperous, but because they are non-profit they rely on volunteers to keep the organization afloat.
“Serrv is a local organization that everyone should attempt to volunteer with, or at least purchase of of the hand made goods. They have a very beautiful and high quality items for reasonable prices. It’s a great way to play a part as a global citizen and your contributions in anyway further help the development of the different countries,” said junior, Jocelyn McKinley. McKinley has been volunteering for Serrv for about two years now. She volunteers with her sorority Gamma Sigma Sigma. Her sorority sends around 4-10 volunteers just about every week throughout the fall semester.
The fall season is Serrv’s busiest time of the year because that is when they bring in the majority of the goods for the up coming year and for the holiday season. So the demand for volunteers is at its peak. According to Kathy Harley Serrv has been exporting over 100,000 dollars worth of goods each day this fall which is a very impressive achievement for the organization.
Harley urges people from the McDaniel Community to come to Serrvs annual overstock sale. The sale begins November 24 through December 4, 2010. All products will be 60% which makes it a great opportunity to get a little Christmas shopping while helping out the global economy.
