Fair Trade LA, The Tote Project, and Fair Trade USA™ Distribute 100 "Fair Care Packages" to Families Affected by Los Angeles Fires

LOS ANGELES, July 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Last month, in a powerful demonstration of community solidarity and ethical commerce, Fair Trade LA, in partnership with The Tote Project and Fair Trade USA, has distributed 100 Fair Care Packages to individuals and families who lost their homes in the recent Los Angeles wildfires.

Each package was filled with meaningful self-care items from Fair Trade brands, social enterprises, and businesses in the community and were curated to provide comfort, dignity, and a sense of hope to those who are rebuilding their lives. From handcrafted goods to ethically sourced wellness products, every item was chosen to uplift the recipient and serve as a tangible reminder: you are not forgotten.

"When disaster strikes, it's easy for people to feel overlooked or left behind," said Rebecca Dunn, Executive Director of Fair Trade LA. "We wanted each Fair Care Package to let people know that they are not forgotten, and there is a community of people who care deeply about your recovery."

A Community of Givers

This initiative was made possible through the generosity of impactful brands that donated $35,000 worth of products. Brands including The Tote Project, e.l.f. Beauty, JUST ICE Tea, Numi Tea, Ten Thousand Villages, 7th Heaven Chocolate, TCHO, Sanders Candy, MADE by DWC, True Moringa, spaZa Store, COLOR WOW, and Thumbprint Artifacts contributed items to the Fair Care Packages.

Each brand is committed not just to ethical production, but to supporting vulnerable communities, both abroad and at home.

"Fair trade isn't just about how something is made, it's about who it impacts," said Michelle Chavez, Co-Founder of The Tote Project. "We were honored to be part of a project that brought care and encouragement to our neighbors. The news cycle may have moved on, but we are still here."

With support from Fair Trade USA, this collaborative effort highlights the expanding role of conscious consumerism in crisis response and recovery. The Fair Care Packages offer a glimpse into what's possible when businesses, nonprofits, and local advocates work together to meet human needs with compassion and integrity.

"The Fair Trade movement is rooted in community. Fair Trade USA has worked for years to not just build more equity for producer communities, but to also support communities here in the United States in their advocacy for Fair Trade. When any of the communities we work with are strained and in need, we will always contribute what we can to provide support."  - Felipe Arango, CEO of Fair Trade USA

About Fair Trade LA:
Fair Trade LA is a passionate community dedicated to creating a fairer world by supporting ethical and sustainable trade. Our mission is to promote fair trade principles, ensuring that artisans and farmers around the world receive fair wages and work in safe conditions.

About The Tote Project:
The Tote Project is a fair trade collection of ethically and sustainably made giftable goods that exists to empower survivors of human trafficking.

About Fair Trade USA:
Fair Trade USA™, a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is the leading certifier of fair trade products in North America. Offering award-winning, rigorous, and globally recognized sustainable sourcing certification programs that improve livelihoods, protect the environment, and build resilient, transparent supply chains, its trusted Fair Trade Certified™ seal on a product signifies that it was made according to stringent fair trade standards. Fair Trade USA is building an innovative model of responsible business, conscious consumerism, and shared value to eliminate poverty and enable sustainable development for farmers, workers, their families, and communities around the world.

Media Contact:
Fair Trade USA Public Relations
[email protected]
https://www.fairtradecertified.org/ 

To view the full list of participating brands or learn how to contribute to future initiatives, visit @FairTradeLA , @TheToteProject or @fairtradecertified on Instagram.

SOURCE Fair Trade USA™