Extraordinary Coordinator: Linda Elliott
Linda Elliott of First Presbyterian in Charleston, West Virginia, first read about Equal Exchange 22 years ago at a meeting of Presbyterian Women (USA). She found the concept of fair trade, justice, equality, and fairness for farmers working in small organic co-ops in the global south to be extremely compelling. Earlier in her career, in the sixties, Linda had worked with Black students in Mississippi, and she had participated in the National Teachers Walkout. She had a belief that it was important to take direct social action in order to change the world. So in October of 2000, when Linda retired as an early childhood specialist and elementary school teacher, she took the leap. She started to introduce Equal Exchange fairly traded products to her congregation. Linda felt that this might be the perfect outlet in which to pour her heart and energy.
First Presbyterian Church of Charleston is a mission-oriented congregation. Last year they signed on as a Matthew 25 Church, a program of the Presbyterian Church (USA). This means that the congregation is committed to directing its attention to three major areas: 1) building congregational vitality by challenging people and congregations to deepen their faith by engaging in the world; 2) dismantling structural racism by breaking down the system and practices that underlie discrimination, bias, and prejudice; and 3) eradicating systemic poverty by changing laws, policies, and structure that perpetuate economic exploitation of the poor. The church has incorporated the use of Equal Exchange products into these three goals.
For about twenty years, First Presbyterian Church of Charleston has offered Equal Exchange products to its congregants. After services each week, Linda and others sell Equal Exchange products in what's called the "Hope and Justice Fair Trade Market." During the rest of the week, the market is open to anyone interested in purchasing coffee, tea, chocolate, etc. Everyone is welcome to come to First Presbyterian to shop: people from other churches, synagogues, mosques, secular groups, and individuals. Folks pick up the key to the room when they arrive and purchase products on an honor system. When they're finished they return the key and pay for their purchase. Volunteers from the church sell products at special church functions, as well as at International Bazaars at local universities. Every year at Christmas time Linda takes orders and makes holiday and corporate gift baskets filled with Equal Exchange goodies. This past year she made 57 custom gift baskets for people in her congregation.
Linda has found that people love to learn the story behind the products they buy. She tells them about the Congo Coffee Project–how it has revitalized the economic activity in a region of the DR Congo where it is located, and how it has helped to support the Panzi Foundation. This project runs a hospital that helps women who are survivors of sexual violence in the war-torn region recover from the physical and emotional trauma. The hospital provides other routine medical services for local people. Linda talks about the Equal Exchange teas, some of which are grown in the foothills of the Himalayas and in South Africa. She gives people information about the products, like how the low sugar content in the Total Eclipse, Extreme, and Panama Extra Dark chocolate bars allows diabetics to eat them in small amounts. She explains that the dairy-free chocolate bars are Kosher for Passover. She always offers folks a Chocolate Mini to sample.
Linda has been part of Equal Exchange delegations to El Salvador, Nicaragua, and India, shown in the photos below.
“Having heard about the plight of the farmers, I have stayed in their homes and have seen their schools and medical centers. I have met resilient people who are joyous, caring, and sharing in their communities. My enthusiasm and energy to partner with Equal Exchange–a lifeline for farmers–has not wavered.”
In addition to her Equal Exchange responsibilities, Linda has worked in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia, with marginalized Roma children and youth in an organization called Hope for Children since 1998. This work was spearheaded through the Mission and Witness Division at First Presbyterian Church. These children and their leaders are presently working with Ukrainian refugees.
At eighty one years old Linda Elliott has not slowed down. She leads one of the strongest church-based projects in the Equal Exchange Interfaith Program. A deep heartfelt thank you to Linda, an Extraordinary Coordinator, and to the members of the First Presbyterian Church of Charleston, West Virginia.