However; as I start to look at the resources in many of the kits, while I like fun, affordable resources, I'm finding many of them are made in China. This raises some concerns for me as someone who has served for 42 years in Children's ministry and as a grandma. Please allow me to explain.
When I see items which are marked, "Made in China", the first thing I think of is a question . . . were children exploited in the production of these items? Did children in China have to work long hours for little - if any - pay so children here in the USA can have these "trinkets" in their VBS? This is a serious question and one which gives me pause. If publishers are not able to show how no children were exploited in the production of the trinkets in their VBS, then, they need to find a different source for these items or design other options, so churches do not have to contribute to children in other places of the world being exploited, so the children in their churches can have more, "trinkets".
Secondly, when the items marked, "Made in China" are candies, I have serious concerns. I would not feed my dog anything made in China - there have been no shortage of news reports about how dogs have become sick, and even died, when fed food/treats which were made in China - so, I most certainly will not feed my grandchildren - or any child in any ministry where I have anything to say about it - anything made in China.
As people who serve children, as moms, dads, grandparents, we have to speak up and make it clear we will not purchase things made in China and ask . . . require, publishers to not source inexpensive items from China - or anywhere in the world where children - or any person - is exploited to provide inexpensive, "trinkets".
No comments:
Post a Comment