After much brainstorming and planning...I have come up with a project for myself. I love to sew and create new things. I thought about clothes, purses,
wristlets all basic projects, but just wasn't excited about it.
One thing that has really caught my attention over the last couple years was the issue of human slavery. I have been living near and working in Toledo over the past few years and to myself and many others, its just another city in Ohio. But its actually so much more...its one of the top recruiting cities in the U.S. for sexual trafficking with young women. Their is a new organization getting started in Toledo called
The Daughter Project they are currently in the process of purchasing a home and hiring volunteers to give rescued girls a safe and loving home and place to heal. This is just another one of God's blessings. So many people have come together over the past few years to raise money to make this happen. Another team in the area is getting another home together in Dublin, Ohio called the
Grace Haven House which is currently renovating a house which they have estimated a total cost of $150,000 plus they are in need of house hold items and furniture for the home as well. Both projects are completely dependent on donations.
I just haven't been able to shake the thought of how many women and children are being forced into human trafficking and slavery. And once they are rescued they have to deal with the memories of their horrific experience. I can't imagine what that does to a person, but after reading a few stories about young women who have gone through human trafficking, many describe a feeling that they feel disgusting, unwanted, and and ugly.
So I think about things that make me feel good. Of course my faith is number one, a lot of times us girls need just something to add to our wardrobe to make us feel a little bit better. For me that's accessories. I know that's a bit materialistic but its true. I have always had a bad habit of collecting purses, shoes, jewelry, and lately hair accessories. And I love wearing them because they make me feel feminine and pretty. What better way to help these organizations and young women then by creating accessories. I am currently working on building up my inventory of hair accessories in which I am calling Bows for Hope!
Coming very soon will be my Etsy.com store that will be filled with all types of hair accessories including my favorite (the basic bow - image shown) that I hand sew using all types of fabric. My store will include all types of head bands, clips, and bows! As of right now my plan is to give 20 - 30% of my profit from all sales to these organizations, and when the homes open and fill up with rescued women, I plan to send them each a Bow of Hope with a letter to encourage them on their journey to healing. Of course all of this work is very time consuming and will take a bit of help from some friends, but I hope to have my store up and running in early August...so please be sure to check back on my progress and feel free to share any ideas and thoughts!
God Bless,
Alicia
