A local fairtrade shop – started by humanitarians with a global perspective – is behind the Spring into Hope Craft & Vendor Fair that’s taking place April 28. The location is Parkway Chateau, which is adjacent to Brat Stop at 12304 75th Street. The fair is 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM and admission is free. The fair is presented by Outpour Fairtrade Boutique.
This is a craft/vendor fair to support Operation Outpour in building an Urgent Care Clinic in Haiti. There will be 16 craft/vendor booths with a variety of items that you would find at a craft fair, along with a hot dog/brat stand, baked goods, and an Operation Outpour information booth where people can learn about where the proceeds are going.
Rebecca Moon Duensing, owner of Outpour Fairtrade Boutique has been involved with Operation Outpour for six years now. She and Jenn Douma opened Outpour Fairtrade Boutique in November of 2019. “Jenn and I attended the same church. I knew that I wanted to be involved in some way with missions and began working with her on fundraisers in 2018. I fell in love with the mission to speak out for those who had no voice and went to Haiti in 2019 to help open the school. We opened the doors to 37 students with the first-floor classrooms and bathrooms completed,” Duensing states.
They started the boutique after they opened the school. “Jenn had previously been doing home parties with Haitian art and jewelry to raise funds,” Duensing explains. “She called me and said “what do you think about opening a fair-trade store?” And of course, I said absolutely! Little did she know that I had been toying with the idea of opening my own business but wanted it to be something that made a difference. This was it. It has been my happy place ever since.”
This is the first craft fair for Operation Outpour, but other events have been held to support the mission over the years. “Operation Outpour is a non-profit 501(c)(3) who is a voice for those with no voice, focusing on providing a Christ centered education for underprivileged children. We believe that education and training can break the cycle of poverty,” Duensing shares.
The non-profit side of Operation Outpour “began 14 years ago as a way for Jenn to show her gratitude for what God had done for her during a very difficult time in her life. The mission started out in her living room with friends. They looked for a need and helped whether that was providing backpacks for kids or giving out gift cards to families in need in the community. However, she felt the need to do more and became connected with an orphanage in Haiti and that encounter led to Operation Outpour purchasing land for a school.”
Operation Outpour has completed four major projects so far:
-Sorbonne Christian Academy, which is a two-story primary school with 8 classrooms
-A Nutrition Center, where 4,300 meals a month are served
-Two freshwater wells – one for the school and one for the community
-The academy’s four-room kindergarten building. Current enrollment for the academy is 215 students and it continues to grow.
As for the future, Operation Outpour has purchased additional land near the school for an Urgent Care Clinic. A high school will also be added to the already existing school property.
Outpour Fairtrade Boutique is located at 7619 Sheridan Road in Kenosha. It’s run by volunteers and the profits go back to helping support the mission of Operation Outpour. The boutique partners with Operation Outpour on events and fundraisers.
To learn more about the mission, go to operationoutpour.org or call (262) 764-8094.