So God put it on my heart to to do this Dressember thing .... I really did not want to, but here I am.
Dressember, to my surprise, started off as a fashion thing of sorts. The two ladies who started it wanted to bring back femininity and wear a dress, any dress, every single day in December.
I only heard of Dressember this year when the raising awareness and money for the "International Justice Mission" were added to the event.
I decided not only would I wear a dress every single day in December, I would be wearing the same dress every day! Mostly because I only have one that fits comfortably, but truly, it does attract a LOT more attention when people start to see you in the same dress over and over! For me, this is about bringing awareness to something many people have not even really ever heard of - or just brushed off as something that does not happen here.
I really do not like asking people for money, and I already did that once this year, but raising awareness for Human Trafficking has been on my heart for several years.
A few years ago I learned how young girls were being abducted and used in sexual slavery right here in the United States. Not only that, Detroit and Toledo were among the largest Human Trafficking hubs in the United States. Young girls are lured away (or even one story that was shared, going to a party with a newer friend!), drugged, and moved out of the State so they have no idea where they are.
Recently (like this just happened in November) one of Matt's friends had her daughter and her daughter's friend at Great Lakes Crossing. At ages 15 & 16 the mom agreed they could go and watch a movie while shopping was happening. They are very lucky their daughter and her friend came out of that movie. The girls were "friended" by a lady sitting behind them. Casual conversation led to being offered candy. (hmmmm.... starburst would have been my downfall!!) They declined but a little bit later the lady brought out some hair accessories and tried to sell them. This all just in the short time before the movie started. The girls decided to get up and report the lady. Upon return, the lady was gone. Feeling suspicious, a police report was filed. It was then revealed that a "dust" is sometimes used on packaging to make the young girls a bit drugged... so that they can be casually walked out of the theater and taken away. This not some guys luring your daughter into a car anymore!
There are lots of stories on the internet if you choose to educate yourself. They are heartbreaking!
If you want to learn more about the International Justice Mission - which is a legal group helping with Injustice in other countries, which includes freeing women and children from sexual slavery, you can click on my link here... http://www.ijm.org/
If you would like to donate $5 or more to my fundraising, you can donate through my site here...
https://www.ijmfreedommaker.org/campaign/2241/Dressember-for-IJM/
Thank you for your time!!
Love, Marceen
