In a quiet little shop in downtown Logan, you can find little pieces of the world.

Ten Thousand Villages offers clothing pieces, chess sets, nativity sets and instruments (to name a few items) from countries around the world.

Ten Thousand Villages is a non-profit program of the Mennonite Central Committee, the relief and development agency of Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches in North America. This program has been in operation since 1946. The mission of Ten Thousand Villages states that they provide vital, fair income to Third World people by marketing their handicrafts and telling their stories in North America. They work with artisans who would otherwise be unemployed or underemployed. Income from sales helps pay for food, education, health care and housing.

Those who work with the artisans also teach them the importance of giving to their communities.

As I visited the year-old establishment on 100 East Street in Logan, straight east from Caffe Ibis, I was amazed at all the beautiful crafts. Of all the meaningful items I could purchase for gifts, these were the ones that meant the most to me. Not only could I give gifts from around the world, (as if I was some great adventurer and traveled to all these locations), but at the same time aid those who needed my support as well.