World Fair Trade Day, an initiative of the World Fair Trade Organization, is celebrated on the second Saturday in May each year to garner support for a movement seeking to ensure fair prices are paid to producers in developing countries. WFTO, a global network of more than 450 fair trade organizations spanning 73 countries, works to enable producers to improve their livelihoods and communities through fair trade.

Mindful Hands, a specialty gift shop in Old Town offering fairly traded goods from the Tibetan exile community and women’s cooperatives in India and Nepal, marked the occasion by hosting a “Chocolate, Tea, Kitties: World Fair Trade Day” event.

In addition to offering free samples of fairly traded chocolates and iced tea along with craft activities for children, Mindful Hands also hosted the Alexandria-based cat rescue group, Tails High, which has facilitated the rescue and adoption of more than 300 cats and kittens. Visitors were invited to cuddle and play with the animals while learning about opportunities to serve as foster families and/or adoptive families for the cats, and volunteer for the organization.

Ten percent of all of the day's sales at Mindful Hands will be donated to the Fair Trade Resource Network in support of its effort to make all trade fair.