By JACK PALMER

palmer@crescent-news.com

NAPOLEON -- Guatemala is a long distance from northwest Ohio, but the country's impoverished women remain close to the heart of Napoleon resident Daphne Cole.

Cole is a national coordinator for Mayan Hands, a non-profit, fair-trade organization that works with 250 Mayan weavers organized in 12 different cooperative groups in Guatemala.

"We partner with these women in their quest to bring their families out of extreme poverty while continuing to live within the culture they cherish," said Cole, who started with Mayan Hands on June 1. "We are striving to make the world a better place."

Mayan Hands, founded in 1989 by Dr. Brenda Rosenbaum, has two bases of operation.

"One is in Guatemala, where we work closely with the weavers and acquire the beautiful products we send to the U.S.," said Cole. "The other, the one I am involved with, distributes and sells the goods here in the states."

Mayan weavers are world renowned as remarkable artists, but most of them live under extreme poverty.

"They barely make $5-$7 per month when they sell their wares in their own country," said Cole. "By working directly with the weavers and bypassing the middle men, we are able to offer these women a better return for their work -- often five to 10 times as much as they would get by selling their products in the local markets."

Hand-woven products produced by the Mayan women include full-size purses, change purses, checkbook covers, eye glass cases, water bottle holders, luggage tags, table cloths, napkins, jewelry, tote bags, place mats, pot holders, beautiful shawls and scarves, adorable children's hats and bibs, and Christmas ornaments and nativities.

Cole stressed that purchasing products through Mayan Hands allows buyers to give twice: a unique handcrafted gift to their loved ones and friends, plus assistance to impoverished Guatemalan artisans.

"The prices are very reasonable for such high-quality, hand-woven items," said Cole. "They range from $1.50 for a bookmark to $93 for a large table cloth."

Cole will hold a Mayan Hands open house sale on Thursday from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. at her home, 12 Bauman Place in Napoleon.

"These items make great birthday, wedding and anniversary gifts," said Cole. "Or, you can buy early for Christmas. Everyone is welcome to stop by Thursday to view the products and purchase them if they wish."

Guatemala is located in Central America and has an estimated population of 13 million. It is bordered by Mexico to the northwest, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize and the Caribbean Sea to the northeast, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast.

"We sell most of the Mayan Hands products here in fair trade shops, museum shops such as the Smithsonian Institution Shop in Washington, D.C., and the American Indian Museum Shop in New York City, and in some mainstream stores.

"We also do church and school sales through volunteers," added Cole, whose grandmother, Irene Shields, ran the former Iris Dress Shop in Napoleon. "The more products we sell, the more Mayan women we can help."

Cole is seeking individuals, church groups or civic groups who are willing to host a retail sale for Mayan Hands.

For more information about the Mayan Hands program, contact Cole at 419-592-1661 or via e-mail at DaphneCole57@aol.com.

Directions to Thursday's open house: U.S. 24 to Ohio 108, turn right (north) and go .5 mile to Township Road R; turn right on Oakwood Avenue, turn right on Lakeview Drive, turn right on Bauman Place.