Ten Thousand Villages, a Fort Collins nonprofit that sells items created by artisans in developing countries, faces a tenuous future if it can't raise enough money to carry its operations into the 2023 holidays.

A letter sent to the nonprofit's supporters blames the COVID-19 pandemic for the economic disruptions that the nonprofit's leaders say may force the store to close by June if it can't raise about $50,000. Despite cutting staff, asking for a reduction in rent, considering different business models and curtailing purchases of new products, "we are falling short," said the letter from store manager Ana Guzman.

The store at 113 Linden St. in Old Town Square has "fulfilled its fair trade mission in downtown" for almost 25 years and supported thousands of artisans throughout Africa, Asia and Latin America. "We are doing everything we can to keep our doors open," including reducing staff, getting loans, grants, partial rent deferments and finding new vendors to provide products when the store incurred supply chain issues, she said.

Income tax filings for the past three years show a steady decline in Ten Thousand Villages' net revenue, which dropped from $10,999 in tax year 2018 to a $64,795 shortfall in the 2020 tax year filed in 2021. Tax forms for 2022 were not yet available, but Guzman said the store has about $35,000 in reserves, compared to about $116,000 at the beginning of last year.

Sales had started to decline before March 2020 when everything shut down amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Guzman said. In addition to being closed during the pandemic, the store also ran on limited hours in December when its former store manager got sick and volunteers, many of whom were older, were uncomfortable being in public spaces.

"December is the absolute worst time," to have limited hours, Guzman said. That's when store leaders decided they needed to hire more staff. But the finances weren't there to sustain additional staffing and the assistant store manager and another part-time employee's positions were eliminated as a way to buy more time.

Today, the store relies on one employee and volunteers to stay open on weekends. Guzman and volunteers staff the store Monday through Friday. Its board has chipped in, taking shifts at the store, increasing their contributions and managing what they call off-sites — popup markets at churches and "anyplace that will host us" throughout Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska.

There are Ten Thousand Villages stores located throughout the United States, but the Fort Collins Ten Thousand Villages is the only Ten Thousand Villages in Colorado. The next closest Ten Thousand Villages is located in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Purchases get smaller as shoppers' habits change

People are still supporting the store, but the average sale is smaller than in the past as people watch their spending, Guzman said.

"We are a special store, but not a necessary store," she said. "We're an educational store; we want to educate our community and do everything in our power to empower women in developing countries," but the store doesn't sell essential items.

Founded by Wendy Poppen 25 years ago, Ten Thousand Villages "is so special," Guzman said. Poppen "gave me a chance without really having the experience but having the passion for what we do," Guzman said.

If the store can't raise the $50,000 by June or July, Guzman said she won't have the funds to order for the holidays, the store's busiest time of year. If they can raise enough to meet their $10,000 in monthly expenses and get through to December, "the staff and board feel strongly that another successful holiday season will put us on firm footing for several more years."

As a native of the Dominican Republic, Guzman said she feels "tied" to Ten Thousand Villages' mission. "Having a store like Ten Thousand Villages in Old Town "diversifies the town and space," she said. "We need that cultural aspect ... we need something different from the everyday. It's guilt free-to me. It's all done with good, hopeful intentions."

Guzman said she can't wait for the day when supporting fair trade is not unique or special, but becomes standard operating procedure at every business. "You should be able to work (anywhere) and be paid a fair wage and be able to afford health care for your children."

Want to help?

There are a couple ways to help Ten Thousand Villages:

• Tax-deductible cash donations can be made at the store, 113 Linden St., or online at www.focofairtrade.com.

• Shop at the store. Through a partnership with FoCo Cafe and Homeward Alliance, products such as scarf, hat, mittens or soap can be donated to someone in need. The store will collect the donations to be distributed through FoCo Cafe or Homeward Alliance.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Fort Collins nonprofit Ten Thousand Villages seeks help among hardship