Janice Gottschalk has been the coordinator for Erin’s Inside/Out Café at First United Methodist Church since August 2012.

Inside/Out is an opportunity within the church for people to receive a meal Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Last year, she purchased a house behind Domino’s Pizza, which she eventually named the Mission House.

“It’s called Mission House because it’s to do good for the community, the county, the state: if you have an idea that will benefit your neighbor, I will let you hold meetings here,” Gottschalk said.

The Pittsburgh Ten Thousand Villages store reached out to First United Methodist Church last year to ask if the church wanted to sponsor the organization. Gottschalk, still in the process of buying the the Mission House, volunteered the property to host the organization in her space.

This year, Nov. 24, the Mission House, opened its doors once again, as Ten Thousand Villages Pittsburgh’s off-site location. While Gottschalk owns the property, she decided to allow the church to use her space to host Ten Thousand Villages, without charge.

“Basically, this helps our artisans in the developing countries and it helps the people that run the Pittsburgh store,” she said. “And it helps us support a charity, which we are supporting Erin’s inside/out café.”

The Mission House will be hosting Ten Thousand Villages through Dec. 22, according to Gottschalk. The organization is open Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

According to Gottschalk, the goods are fair trade goods—meaning the creators are given a fair price for their products—which allows them to make a living wage. She said the Mission House includes several hundred items – almost $6,500 worth of inventory.

She said prices vary per item, ranging from $3 to $59. Ten Thousand Villages accepts cash, checks and credit cards and items are available online.

While Gottschalk said the Mission House has been quiet at times, the people volunteering are thankful for the opportunity to be a part of the organization.

“We really love the goods that we are receiving from the other countries,” she said.

Inside, there are two rooms with tables covered in items including clipboards made from old circuit boards, matchbox nativity scenes and wooden elephant puzzle boxes, which Gottschalk said Ten Thousand Villages specifically promotes.

“If you walk around and see the [creativity] of the people that are in the developing countries and some of the countries that the items are from, that really tells more of a story than anything I have to say,” she said.

Gottschalk said the First United Methodist Church and the Pittsburgh Ten Thousand Villages location are still trying to tweak their relationship to make it more beneficial for both parties.

By hosting Ten Thousand Villages, the First United Methodist Church is able to receive 15% of the net income from the organization, which they can then  give to a charity. Gottschalk said the First United Methodist Church will give to Erin’s Inside/Out Café.

Gottschalk is thankful for the opportunity to continue building upon the café.

“It was exciting again,” Gottschalk said on hosting Ten Thousand Villages again this year. “It’s another opportunity to find ways to support the Erin’s Inside/Out Café. And I’m really trying to show to my fellow church members how this house can meet the mission, which is a purpose. A mission isn’t necessarily missionaries, it’s a purpose.”

Gottschalk said the Mission House is her way of investing in people.

The First United Methodist Church’s Ten Thousand Villages is fully volunteer-run by members of the church and members of Waynesburg University, according to Gottschalk. She believes that while she is allowing the Mission House to be used free-of-charge, that it is necessary.

“I feel like I am [doing the right thing],” Gottschalk said on providing free use of the Mission House to those within the requirements.

“I feel like the holy spirit is leading me in what to do and what to do next. I feel as long as I am listening and responding…you have to be in tune and always bare it to hear its guidance.”