From her office in the Bronx, NY, Sister Claire Regan explains that a religious life is based on sharing within a community. For the Sisters of Charity of New York, that spirit of sharing aligns perfectly with the Fair Trade principles of working together as a cooperative and sharing the resources of the earth.

For the last 200 years, the Sisters of Charity of New York have been serving those most in need around the world. Their order was originally founded by the formidable Elizabeth Ann Seton, later canonized as the first American-born saint. Currently, this order of 380 Catholic nuns is actively tackling issues like access to health care, education, child care, and economic justice.

The Sisters of Charity of New York became involved with the Fair Trade movement in the mid-1990’s and since 2002 have regularly invested in TransFair USA by providing low-interest loans. They make sure that only Fair Trade Certified™ coffee is served at their offices and encourage their congregation to buy and advocate for Fair Trade Certified products at local stores. The commitment of faith-based allies such as the Sisters of Charity helps TransFair USA bring new products to market and positively impact more farmers in the developing world.