January 2023: Human Trafficking Awareness Month

For the last few years, January has been named National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. January is also known as Human Trafficking Awareness Month.

Here at WAR, Int’l, we observe National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month every month. You see, trafficking doesn’t sleep. Oppression reigns around the world, where the innocence of another is stolen every 30 seconds. For many years, we’ve been asking ourselves this question: How many is too many? We believe that answer is one.

More than ever, we deeply desire our communities to rise up against injustice. We’re asking you to come out of your comfort zone to bring hope to the hopeless; to be a voice to the voiceless.

We want to give you a few suggestions on how to join the movement this January:

  1. Give up your weekly Starbucks. #IKR?! Many of us absolutely love our coffee. But, have you ever considered giving what you would have spent on coffee to an organization fighting human trafficking? The reality is that children as young as five years old are harvesting coffee beans on plantations all around the world for little to no pay. This is what we call labor trafficking. We invite you to give up coffee for the rest of January and donate your savings to Women At Risk, Int’l. If you’re interested in this opportunity, please click here.
  2. Pledge to tell five of your friends about the dangers of human trafficking. In any of its forms, trafficking easily engrains itself into our communities. Share this issue with those closest to you to raise awareness!
  3. Pray. We know that sounds so simple, but prayer is the only way we will end human trafficking. Think about it: We can fundraise and we can build safehouses, but if there’s no heart-change, we’ve done very little to break the cycle.

If you are interested in sounding a battle cry with us this month to rescue those trapped in the bondage of slavery, we invite you to visit our Get Involved page here. We have practical tools to help you take your first (or next) steps in ending human trafficking.

Please join us in this fight, and know that while one month may bring light to this tragedy, at-risk women and men all over the world suffer, sometimes for years, before rescue. What can you give up this month to bless a person in need? Through your time, talent and treasure, we can fight exploitation together.

While it breaks our hearts that we even need a month here in the United States to recognize that trafficking exists, we understand the importance of raising awareness, and we applaud our government for declaring this month one for reflection and justice.

Join us today and spread the word this month!

Dec ’22. News. Events.

December 2022

Season’s Greetings, WARriors!

We wanted to take this opportunity to thank each member of the WAR family for your support and encouragement throughout this past year. Whether it was through your prayers, hours of volunteer service, donations, purchases, or hosting an event, you are what makes the mission of WAR, Int’l possible.

Our hope is that this month is filled with joy and peace for you and yours as we remember the reason we celebrate the season.

Giving Tuesday

Our word for Giving Tuesday 2022 is IMPACT as it is our goal to make an immediate impact on the lives we are called to help in their darkest hour of need. Our 911 Rescue fund allows us to say “yes” when a plane ticket is needed for a woman to escape her trafficker, when money is needed for emergency care, or legal aid is required. Thank you WAR Family for helping us be able to say “yes!”

GIVE TODAY!

LEARN MORE HERE!

Don’t Forget!

Our holiday lookbook is here to help simplify your WAR Chest Boutique shopping experience! Find gift ideas and inspiration as you peruse its pages filled with beautiful products for you to purchase, share, and enjoy.

Not only will you gain a quality handcrafted gift, but you’ll also be empowering rescued and at-risk lives with the power of your purchase. Shop our holiday lookbook here!

Shipping Notification

For any orders placed after December 16, 2022, the WAR Chest Boutique cannot guarantee delivery by Christmas. Please place your order accordingly – the earlier the better!

Visit warchestboutique.com to catch up on your Christmas shopping any time of the day or night! We’ve got something for everyone on your list so you can shop with a purpose this holiday season!

Did You Know?

We offer free shipping on all orders of $75 or more! You can #ShopToRescue anytime at warchestboutique.com and save on shipping while checking items off your Christmas list. It’s a win-win for everyone. Finish up your holiday shopping from the comfort of your own home this holiday season!

New Blog Post

Our 911 Rescue fund grew out of a partner’s request in the dead of night to rescue a baby who had been sold. Most of these stories are never told due to their danger and confidentiality… but because of you, they’re real rescues. Currently, WAR, Int’l is immersed in seven rescue situations. If we’re ever able to share any details, we will. In the meantime, read Real Stories of Rescue here.

As the anticipation builds for our next Light Up Your World, can we get a drumroll, please? #OOOOHHHH, who’s going to be our next special guest? We’re still finalizing the details but can’t wait to share them with you soon! Stay tuned by checking our upcoming events page for additional details as the time gets closer.

For the 26th, here is the Zoom link!

Real Stories of Rescue

“Most stories are never told due to their danger and confidentiality…but because of you, they’re real rescues.” Becky McDonald

November 2022

Ellie.

Mai cut the cooked egg into four sections, dividing it equally between her four hungry children. With another one on the way, there would soon be five hungry mouths to feed.

Two weeks after her new little one was born, Mai sold Ellie, her beautiful baby girl, to local traffickers. When our partnering safehouse heard about the situation, they tracked Ellie down and loaned Mai money to buy her back, despite threats from the traffickers.

Now adopted into a safe home, Ellie is blossoming under the love and care she needs.

Our 911 Rescue fund grew out of this partner’s request in the dead of night to rescue this precious baby girl who had been sold to Thai traffickers for $200. Becky, founder and president of WAR, Int’l, was shocked they had to ask for the funding to rescue. Becky promised the money blindly, saying she would have a garage sale if necessary, and begged them to rescue the baby without delay!

Moses.

At four months old, Moses was an adorable baby—but his family offered to sell him to anyone who wanted him. In this situation, he came to the notice of a group of our partners, who took turns watching him. Fortunately for Moses, we found him before a trafficker did. While the law tied our hands, we were able to use money from the 911 Rescue Fund to pay for his immediate needs.

Nadia.

Just recently, we helped facilitate the rescue of a woman running from the mob after she was discovered hiding in a church. She was so frightened she attempted to jump out of a moving car when someone tried taking her to a hospital. Two WAR volunteers who are fluent in her language were able to calm her down, and our friends at Homeland Security helped us get her into a safehouse. While addressing her medical needs, we discovered she’s almost blind in one eye and needs glasses. Having funds readily available to cover these costs is crucial.

When you help a woman escape exploitation, you witness the painfully high cost of freedom. While she leaves abuse behind, in many cases she’s leaving everything she’s ever known. She may never see family again, especially if they were part of the problem. Starting over is exhausting, let alone simultaneously navigating trauma and healing.

Freedom is not free but painfully expensive in a thousand different ways.

Meadow.

Meadow’s father was her trafficker. Rather than cherish and protect his daughter, he sold her innocence to local politicians. Though Meadow is now safe with her mother in hiding, she bravely attempts to overcome the past betrayal and trauma. For Meadow, making sugar scrubs has been a source of peace, a small part of repairing the brokenness of the past. However, Meadow’s future also benefits from this therapeutic process. As Women At Risk, International proudly stands beside this brave young girl, we ask you to stand with us to support those at risk in our own communities.

Ready to start making an impact today?

GIVE TODAY

LEARN MORE HERE

#TogetherWeRescue

From sweater days to wooly nights

How is it that November is already upon us? This month kicks off the beginning of the holiday season, and if you’re anything like the rest of us, your calendar is filling up fast. That’s why we want to notify you ahead of time what opportunities there are to partner with WAR, Int’l in making a difference during this busy time of year.

Whether participating in our Giving Tuesday Campaign, joining in the festivities at a pop-up event, or checking items off your holiday shopping list at WAR Chest Boutique, you are helping us continue our mission of rescue, restoration, and empowerment. We are beyond grateful for your continued encouragement and support.

Giving Tuesday: November 29, 2022

The word we have chosen as a theme for Giving Tuesday 2022 is impact.

We all want to make a positive impact on the world around us, especially for those in need. We have a goal to raise $40,000 for our 911 Rescue Fund, and your gift empowers immediate rescue and intervention when life-saving action is required. A single act of kindness can make a powerful difference. Together, we can create an impact by giving to rescue, restore, and empower vulnerable lives around the globe.

Learn more about our Giving Tuesday campaign here.

Donate here.

In Case you Missed It…

Our A Holiday to Remember lookbook is here! We are delighted to display our beautiful products for you to purchase, share, and enjoy, and it is our hope you find a sense of peace and purpose in shopping our collection of handcrafted gifts this holiday season. We’re confident you’ll not only discover items your friends and family will love, but you’ll also empower the rescued and at risk by purchasing the work of their hands.

Shop our Holiday Lookbook here!

Becky at Wheaton

Join Becky as she speaks at the IJM Chapter of Wheaton College on Wednesday, November 2 from 4:00-5:00 pm CT. Come learn about human trafficking and how you can combat this evil in your community. Products made by and in support of rescued and at-risk individuals will also be available for purchase after the event until 7:30 pm. Find additional details here.

Joy 99 Live

WAR Chest Boutique invites you to join us on Friday, November 4 from 10:00 am-1:00 pm EDT for a live remote radio broadcast with our friends at Joy 99. Come on over and spin the Joy 99 prize wheel and enter our drawing for a chance to score an exclusive gift basket from WAR Chest Boutique! For any in-store purchases of $30 or more, you’ll also receive a FREE gift of a Compass Key Ring made in our U.S. Training Center.

Learn more at upcoming events.

Holiday Gift Fair

We’ve been invited to host a pop-up shop of WAR Chest Boutique products at the Lansing Grace Alternative Holiday Gift Fair on Saturday, November 5 from 10:00 am-2:00 pm EDT. If you’re in the area, come join the festivities and support WAR, Int’l along with other fair trade merchants. A bake sale and children’s activities will also be part of the merriment. More info here.

Becky Speaking

On Sunday, November 6 Becky will be speaking at the 11:15 am service of First Congregational Church of Christ in Angola, IN. You are invited to hear her share about the realities of trafficking in our world today and the work we’re accomplishing at WAR, Int’l, particularly in Afghanistan and Ukraine. You will hear stories of rescue and hope and have opportunity to shop products made by rescued and at-risk artisans around the globe.

Learn more details here.

Bombshell Birthday Bash

Come kick off the holiday shopping season and stop by our pop-up shop at the Bombshell Beauty Lounge on Saturday, November 19 from 10 am-2 pm. As part of their anniversary celebration, we have been invited to take part in the festivities, and we hope you’ll join us! The Bombshell Birthday Bash is a great way to support WAR, Int’l while also having some fun! Find more info here.

Light Up Your World – November 28th

Don’t forget to join us for another survivor testimonial on this month’s Light Up Your World Zoom call! On Monday, November 28 special guest AJ will once again be joining us to share more about her personal journey of becoming a birth mother and finding healing from trauma and addiction. As she shares, your heart will be deeply touched, and you will find AJ is more than a survivor–she is also a THRIVER who has made it her life’s work to empower other survivors as they traverse the path to healing.

Visit our upcoming events page for additional details.

My Favorite Color is October

October 2022

As the days grow crisp and the leaves begin to turn, the world about us is aglow with autumn splendor. With myriads of fall activities and all things pumpkin spice, October bestows bushels of fun before ushering us into the upcoming holiday season. At WAR, International, we are excited to help you jump into fall with some fun new opportunities to partner with us and party with a purpose this October!

NEWSWORTHY UPDATES

A Holiday to Remember
Candles flickering in frosty windows. Pine cones. Snowflakes. Mugs of delicious hot chocolate. Cozy cabin aromas. All these holiday scenes float through our minds, inviting us to embrace each moment with those we love. And as we compose our upcoming holiday lookbook, joy is abounding as we seek to capture all these delightful “feels” and display our beautiful products for you to purchase, share, and enjoy. Our holiday hope is for you to gather with your family and friends to cultivate togetherness and invite All The Memories the season has to offer.

Until the release of our A Holiday to Remember Lookbook, why don’t you pop on over and shop our stunning collection of other lookbooks here!?

Update on the Great Flood
The restoration company is working hard to clean up the water damage before the repairs and rebuilding begin. Because of the damage done to portions of the upstairs flooring, we have had to move all staff office spaces downstairs, with the exception of our U.S. Training Center. On many of the now exposed boards found on the staircase or other interior building structures, you can once again see the scripture verses that girls from a Michigan safehouse inscribed beneath the surface All Those Years Ago. For those boards we need to remove, we are thinking of repurposing them into a mural. More on that when a decision is made!

To stay up-to-date on the latest, follow our WAR, Int’l Facebook page.

If you wish to help with the costs of restoration, please consider leaving a financial gift here.

In Case you Missed it…
As this month’s second blog post, we have shared an editorial interview done by VoyageMichigan Magazine where you will have the chance to hear founder and president Becky McDonald’s story in her own words. You will be inspired by her passion and commitment to helping those whose voices have been silenced, while also learning more about the history and mission of Women At Risk, International.

Read the latest blog post here!

OCTOBER EVENTS

Hear Becky in Person!
We would like to personally invite you to join Becky on Sunday, October 2, 2022 at 6pm at New Life Baptist Fellowship. She will be sharing the work of Women At Risk, International as well as stories of rescue and hope. Product made by and in support of rescued and at-risk artisans will also be available for purchase during the evening. Find additional details here!

Cops, Coffee, Donuts!
Invite friends and family to join our annual Coffee with a Cop event on October 5 from 9:30-11:00am at our Grandville location. Enjoy a time of community, coffee, and donuts where you can learn what our local cops are doing to combat trafficking and their advice to help you do the same! There’s no need to register – just show up with your questions and be ready for a fun time! Learn more here.

From Survivor to Thriver
Don’t forget to join for us another survivor testimonial on this month’s Light Up Your World Zoom call! On Monday, October 24 special guest Pearl and WAR, Int’l founder and president Becky McDonald will be leading a conversation on overcoming trauma as Pearl shares her story and provides an honest picture of the path to healing. Prepare to be inspired by her courage and determination in not only finding her own voice, but also to speak on behalf of others struggling with the impact of trauma.

For additional details, visit our Upcoming Events page here.

Dress-up Time!
WAR Chest Boutique invites families to join us on October 29 from 10:00am – 12:00pm for treats & tales! Princess Jasmine and Sleeping Beauty will be there to read stories and pass out candy, crayons, and coloring books. Also available will be our kid’s bead bar where your littles can expand their imaginations and bring home their treasured creations. Free for all, make sure to dress up as your favorite superhero, princess, or storybook character! Find the details here!

Book your Holiday Pop-Up Party ASAP! Or email- party@warinternational.org.