With school back in session the need to raise extra money will start to boggle the minds of many parents. Wrapping paper, candy bars, cookies and magazine subscriptions are just a few of the many items kids take home to sell to neighbors and friends to support their schools.

A few year ago, owner of Ballard's Market Street Traders Tammy James teamed up with Annie Adams of Globaledventures, a non-profit organization formed to provide education to work toward alleviating world poverty, to create the Fair Trade Fundraiser program.

“People buy stuff in this store (Market Street Traders), so why not give to the schools through fair trade fundraising?” Adams said. “Why not empower and educate kids through fundraising?"

James and Adams realized that many schools go through large corporations when choosing fundraising items. But, Adams said that most of the money earned just feeds back into the corporations that are already making loads of money.

“So, why not do something that actually has meaning behind it?” Adams said. “Kids are able to see that they’re making a difference in somebody’s life and money isn’t just going back to big businesses.”

Market Street Traders and Globaledventures collaboration provides schools with a Fair Trade Gift Catalog and Web site to support the cause. The funds support communities in the developing world that are working to end poverty, sustain the environment and preserve their cultural heritage, said Adams.

The items offered are hand-made by artisans from developing countries who reap the benefits of their labor through those who purchase items through this type of fundraising, Adams said.

“We’re just a collection of friends who want to make a difference,” Adams said. “It’s not like we’re big businesses wondering how we can make money.”

Currently, Fair Trade fundraising is involved with the following schools and groups: Northwest Girls Choir, the Ballard High School music department and Madrona kindergarten-through-eighth grade.

“We go to schools, have a presentation and we also talk to the schools as a whole or individuals groups," Adams said.

James and Adams ultimately would like kids to realize how lucky they are to be standing in school with a backpack, lunch and shoes, Adams said.

“What we want them to think is what they buy today is what they can tell their parents to buy to make a difference in a kid's life that's just like them,” she said.

Adams said that 90 percent of the artisans that are supported through the program are women who have kids not likely attending school. By gaining an income through the fundraiser, Adams believes that plenty more of those children would be able to go to school.

“Kids come home with wrapping paper and candy all the time, so it (fair trade fundraising) was exciting the first time,” Liz Moran, a parent at Madrona said. “You can do Christmas shopping and the quality of the products are great.”

“Ideally I’d love it to be in all the schools,” Adams said. “We’re totally different from any other school fundraiser, which is the only way we could get in and make a difference without getting on a soapbox and talking.”