What: The same dress, worn every day, for 30 days. Funding: A new refuge space for GO:61. Used for: Human trafficking training and victim services. Where: Southwest Missouri. Who's wearing the dress?: Casey Alvarez
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Day 3 – If you’re wondering why I’m just on Day 3 now, please see the end of this post.
A survivor of human trafficking we’ve been working with is struggling in a lot of ways. She faces serious challenges. Her struggle is sobering to me, and it reminds me that human trafficking makes a severe impact on a person’s life. It impacts some women and girls so much that they never recover. Those who do enter recovery or restoration programs face the biggest challenge of their lives – challenges that most of us cannot begin to fathom.
When Fundraising Brings Draws You Closer to True Purpose and Meaning
While I got off to a very rocky start with this particular fundraiser, facing so many challenges myself, I knew I had to follow through no matter what. I had to follow through because I committed to doing it, and because if this were easy, everybody would do it. When things get hard, we press on, because we know the hard times do not last forever. Like all things, any fundraiser can seem intimidating, but once you get going, the purpose and meaning of it impacts you in deeply personal ways.
For me, when I wear the dress every day, even when I don’t feel like it, I’m reminded how God has blessed me with freedom and choice and opportunity, and those victimized by trafficking do not have those luxuries. I’m reminded of the ladies we serve and how dear they are, and how most have very few people in their corner. Yes, for sure, fundraising for a cause you love brings deeper purpose to your life – and I dare say, especially when it’s inconvenient.
Do You Talk to Her More Than You Talk about Her?
I was cooking this morning while wearing the dress of course
Two years ago, I received a call from a police officer to come and assist a lady who needed help leaving a dangerous situation. When I picked her up, the only thing she owned was the dress she was wearing. She had been wearing it for more than a week. She also had a pair of flip-flops. Our first order of business was to take her shopping to get a few new outfits. The dress she had on was dirty, soiled, and it covered very little of her body. She was overcome with tears when she was able to purchase new clothes.
Side note: Do you know that the majority of human trafficking and abuse victims we work with choose sports bras when we take them shopping? Many have bruises or medical issues that make wearing a normal bra painful.
After meeting with her, and realizing the great extent of her needs, I did a fundraiser, wearing the same dress for 30 days, and asked friends and family members to sponsor me per every day I wore the dress. It turned out to be an effective way to bring awareness to the plight of those impacted by human trafficking, and the fundraising helped to assist the young woman with her immediate needs.
Today, GO:61 is in the process of transitioning from our old Refuge to a new Refuge. The old space has been a wonderful donated space, supplied completely free-of-charge by a very supportive church. As this church grows and expands, that donated space is needed to cover the learning and kids' activities for the church. It is also true that at our mark, we're outgrowing the donated space and are in need of slightly larger quarters to hold outreach supplies, provide training, and to offer victim services.
This one-dress-for-30-days is a fundraiser to make securing and moving into a new refuge possible. Thank you in advance for your help!
I'll be wearing the same dress every day for 30 days! You can support me by becoming a donor! All donations go directly to GO:61 and are tax deductible.
BLOGGING AND UPDATES: The dress-everyday will begin on April 9th and will end on May 10th. I'll be updating all supporters via email and social media with pictures, videos, blogs, and testimonies periodically. May the Good Lord bless and keep you as you give to make education and healing possible for the exploited.
Blessings,
Casey Alvarez
Executive Director, GO:61
For more information about the work of GO:61, visit http://www.go61.org/.
To read reviews about the organization, visit https://greatnonprofits.org/org/go-61-inc.
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Day 3 – If you’re wondering why I’m just on Day 3 now, please see the end of this post.
A survivor of human trafficking we’ve been working with is struggling in a lot of ways. She faces serious challenges. Her struggle is sobering to me, and it reminds me that human trafficking makes a severe impact on a person’s life. It impacts some women and girls so much that they never recover. Those who do enter recovery or restoration programs face the biggest challenge of their lives – challenges that most of us cannot begin to fathom.
When Fundraising Brings Draws You Closer to True Purpose and Meaning
While I got off to a very rocky start with this particular fundraiser, facing so many challenges myself, I knew I had to follow through no matter what. I had to follow through because I committed to doing it, and because if this were easy, everybody would do it. When things get hard, we press on, because we know the hard times do not last forever. Like all things, any fundraiser can seem intimidating, but once you get going, the purpose and meaning of it impacts you in deeply personal ways.
For me, when I wear the dress every day, even when I don’t feel like it, I’m reminded how God has blessed me with freedom and choice and opportunity, and those victimized by trafficking do not have those luxuries. I’m reminded of the ladies we serve and how dear they are, and how most have very few people in their corner. Yes, for sure, fundraising for a cause you love brings deeper purpose to your life – and I dare say, especially when it’s inconvenient.
Do You Talk to Her More Than You Talk about Her?
I was cooking this morning while wearing the dress of course
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May 11