My Shopping Habits Were Changed Forever

Author: Rebecca McDonald, Founder & President
August 2022


My experiences of rescuing survivors of horrific abuse and teaching them to work with dignity by making artisanal products changed my shopping habits forever.

I was never one to buy shoes, purses, or jewelry. Then I started creating programs for survivors on a global scale and realized they needed a sustainable source of income. I told God, “If I’m going to have to sell something, it has to be beautiful!”

And so it began. WAR, Int’l started selling handcrafted jewelry and accessories made by rescued and at-risk women (and even men) from around the world. Now, I’m a walking mannequin for WAR!

Besides, the day I don’t dress up is the day I will be asked for an interview or meet with a person of influence, and I want to take every opportunity to show off the work of our artisans’ hands! Today, the WAR Chest Boutique has over 7000 unique gifts handcrafted by or sold in support of rescued and at-risk individuals.

The stories of the survivors we support are the heartbeat of our mission, and every product comes with a story card allowing you to read personal stories of men, women, and children who have passed through our programs. Whether they’re made in a preventative or a restorative program, our artisans craft fair trade items within a safe environment where they receive wraparound services designed to rescue, restore, and empower them to live with dignity and purpose.

Shopping with a purpose proves how my meager purchases have the power to change a life forever. Another non-profit that rescues survivors and sells handmade candles as we do says, “A single candle cuts through the darkest night.” Decades of experience have taught me the truth of Dr. Martin Luther King’s statement, “Darkness does not drive out darkness, only light can do that.” Our goal is to shed light on a dark subject and give hope and healing to those who seek safety beneath the shelter of our wings.

When you buy a product from the WAR Chest Boutique, you’re truly a fellow soldier in the fight to set the captives free. You literally jump in the trenches with us lifting the lives of those once trafficked and exploited to jobs with worth and dignity.

I can’t shop at Walmart or JCPenney anymore! I struggle shopping at the dollar store. I don’t know who made their products, their working conditions, if they’re being paid fairly, how they are being cared for, how old they are, or even if they’re free to choose differently. My eyes have been opened.

Every Friday, just for you, we curate a collection of specialty gifts from the WAR Chest Boutique. It is a treasure chest, if you will, of unique and beautiful handcrafted items – like ​jewelry, scarves, accessories, and more – to provide you with moments of opportunity.

-The opportunity to add fresh style to your home and attire.
-The opportunity to equip and empower survivors.
-The opportunity to give a hand up for those at risk to live in freedom.

Please take a moment to shop with a purpose at the WAR Chest Boutique!

Browse this week’s collection at Fresh Finds!

Last Call for Summer

August 2022

We know you want to make the most of your time so we’re here to help you relish the last days of summer with some exciting offers and impactful events! Scroll down to see what’s happening with WAR, Int’l in the month of August. We hope you’ll join us for one last hurrah before summer comes to a close!

Mystery Box #3 is Live!

If you’re anything like the rest of us, you may find yourself standing in front of the mirror and thinking, “I have nothing to wear with this outfit!” If that’s you, the simple-trendy-glitzy-everyday vibe of MB#3 is just what you need! This set will sweetly pair with your jeans and t-shirts. As well as subtly glam up that cute summer dress. And go with that office outfit that needs a bit of pep. Handcrafted by at-risk Thai women who are now working with dignity, you contribute to their future and pay it forward with the power of your purchase. Originally valued at $30, this mystery box set is available to you for only $10 while supplies last! Pop on over to warchestboutique.com and grab yours today!

P.S. You can still get in on MB#2 for a few more days! Just specify that you want MB#2 in the special instructions section at checkout. Offer ends August 5th!

10% Off Special

If you haven’t booked your summer party yet, now is the time! This is the last month to capitalize on our 10% offer, and you don’t want to miss this limited-time opportunity! Link arms with women around the world by scheduling your summer pop-up party today! It can be as simple or elaborate as you choose Get creative and feel free to ask us for ideas on how you can party with a purpose this August!

Contact Party Central!

Monday, August 22nd – Light Up Your World

Don’t forget to join us this month for our Light Up Your World Zoom call with WAR, Int’l founder and president Rebecca McDonald! In this month’s discussion, Becky will be sharing updates on her most recent travels around the globe. Hear about her visits to our partners in Guatemala, Portugal, France, Kenya, and Zambia. Additionally, Becky will also be providing the latest report on WAR’s partnerships in both Ukraine and Moldova. Mark your calendars and join us on Monday, August 22, at 7:30 pm EST. Learn more here!

August 6 – WAR, Int’l Course

Want backstage knowledge about WAR, Int’l? Then the WAR, Int’l Course is for you! Led by founder and president Rebecca McDonald, topics include our history and mission, how programs and partners are developed, the handling of products and sales with artisans, specific ways to get involved, and more. The registration deadline is fast approaching, and space is limited so snag your spot today by registering HERE!

August 10-13 – Unity Festival

WAR, Int’l will be at Unity Fest selling beautiful items handmade by rescued and at-risk individuals. Founder and president Rebecca McDonald will also be speaking on the main stage on the evening of Friday, August 12th. Learn more here!

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT!

It may be August, but Christmas is still in the air! If you haven’t had a chance to check out our Christmas in July Featurette, this is your moment! Browse our ‘Merry Medley’ of items and find a treasured gift for yourself or someone you love. By doing so, you extend the light of love to those who need it most. In shopping the work of their hands, you give survivors and those at risk a chance to heal and the opportunity earn an income with dignity!

#ShopToRescue Here

Beauty. Courage. Resilience.

July 2022


Christmas In July

As the temperatures outside reach record highs, we’re excited to bring you Christmas in July! Featuring a merry medley of unique and beautiful gifts, we have created an easy-to-shop collection for you, just in time to beat the summer heat.

No matter the time of year, the need for rescue never stops. For those who are enslaved and at risk of exploitation, there is no reprieve. However, when you shop with the WAR Chest Boutique, not only are you joining us in setting captives free, but you are also helping them stay free. By purchasing the work of their hands, you empower the rescued and at-risk to earn an income with dignity, providing them with economic stability that safeguards them from traffickers.

Our vocational training programs are a crucial part of the rescue process. Rescue involves far more than simply removing a person from a situation. A study from one Asian country revealed that ninety percent of rescued women who did not receive job training were either resold or returned to the streets out of desperation to survive. As part of our intervention strategy, it is absolutely imperative that we address the root issues that put them at risk in the first place and provide them with an alternative means of supporting themselves and their families. This is just one of the reasons why WAR, Int’l is so passionate about job training!

Learning to work with dignity is also a powerful piece of the healing process. When Faye* came to our partners, she was skeptical at first but soon joined their vocational training program. Now, she is working with other women in the center making beautiful macramé bags and designing jewelry. She says, “I never thought my hands were capable of creating something so beautiful. I never thought I would be as joyful and strong as I am now.” As survivors like Faye create items of beauty and value, they are reminded of their own worth, of their own potential and purpose. There’s no greater joy than to see rescued men, women, and children walking in freedom, on a path towards healing and wholeness.

Each of the pieces featured in our Christmas in July collection is a reflection of the beauty, courage, and resilience of the survivor who created it. They serve as a reminder for us to be light, bring hope, and share love in the midst of hopelessness and despair. When we offer a ‘hand up’ to those in need, we shine a light on the darkness and empower them to rise up from the ashes of their past.

Use the power of your purchase to capture the spirit of Christmas, putting love into action all throughout the year. Besides, the joy of helping others may be the very boost your summer needs! Shop our ‘Merry Medley’ of items knowing your gifts give back to those in need!

Enjoy Shopping Our Christmas in July Featurette Here!

*Name changed for security purposes.

Quench Your Thirst for Freedom

July 2022


PARTY WITH A PURPOSE!

This summer, keep cool and party on by hosting a WAR Chest Boutique pop-up party! You’ll receive a free hostess gift as our thanks to you. As an ADDED BONUS, you and your guests will receive 10% off your entire party purchase!

DID YOU KNOW:
Every $300 in WAR product sales can sustain an individual in one of our partnering overseas safehouses for a month. On average, this means every $10 in sales can sustain a rescued individual in one of these safehouses for an entire day!

Link arms with your friends to make an impact.

Hosting is easy—we send you all the products, promotional materials, and it’s a great way to beat that summer boredom while having fun with family and friends. Our products are fashionable, practical, and support safehouses and enterprises all over the world.

Whether you choose a handbag or a one-of-a-kind jewelry piece, you’ll know your purchase has a purpose in helping lift rescued and at-risk men, women, and children to dignity and freedom.

Call 616-855-0796 or email party@warinternational.org today to plan your party and receive your free hostess gift. Quench your thirst for freedom with a WAR Chest Boutique pop-up party!

Nurturing Love, Hope, & Strength

Author: Rebecca McDonald, President & Founder
June 2022


TEA FOR TWO

A Nurturing Ritual: There’s a deep joy in the ritual of tea. Tea is romantic, filled with renewal, and meant for reflection and nurturing. Each cup tells a story. Sipping tea is drinking in the gift of creation and makes us pause and linger on life. To paraphrase from The Way of Tea and Justice, tea provides a tasty lens to find a moment of quiet sanctuary. Tea never talks back and is a faithful friend. The simplicity of tea calls you to slow down, pay attention, and listen.

Nurture Those You Love: So let’s try together! Lift your cup, slow down, and listen. Whisper encouragement to those you love – your spouse, your children, a friend, a mom…you choose who needs to be loved on. Sit with them. Offer them a cup of tea. Listen to their delights of life and their struggles with it. Just listen. Listening has this renewing power that nurtures others. It sends a message that they are important, strong, loved, wonderful, courageous…A beautiful ritual, tea time sets aside the busyness and puts focus on the ones we love.

Nurture Each Other: Set a tiny table for you and your grands, spouse, or loved one. Have your own tea party. Beloved by the British Empire who took it globally, I grew up “taking tea” at a boarding school in Pakistan. The day I had a girl after three boys, I shunned mugs. My baby girl and I daily drank from my grandma’s teacups – her, milk and me, coffee – lying under the lilacs in the woodlands of the Appalachian Mountains. Today only the fanciest hotels offer high teas. You can do it at home, keeping it simple and fun. Simple is still fun.

Nurture Yourself, Your Thoughts, and Dreams: Tea connects us, but alone, it makes us stop and nurture ourselves amid the craziness of life. When overwhelmed by my day, the brokenness of those we lift, or just the sheer volume of work before me…I take a five-minute tea break. I sit in a chair with a cup of tea and tell the world, “For five minutes, the world is okay!” I let my mind wander and dream of big, God-sized plans for the WAR world. When I finish my tea, I feel a little refreshed and am charged to take on everything again.
So, WARriors! Nurture yourself, nurture your loved ones, and nurture your community. Raise a cup of tea and let’s dream together. Let’s nurture lives that are broken and seek love one cup of tea and one handcrafted piece at a time!

For further calm and loveliness, peruse and shop WAR Chest Boutique’s Tea For Two Lookbook