First posted January 8, 2015
Some of you may follow the blog “We are THAT family.” Here is a quotation from one of the blog posts this past year. “More than a year ago, God dropped an idea in my heart. I had this crazy – overwhelming, overpowering desire to empower women all over the world with opportunity and employment in the name of Jesus. And I had no idea what that meant. I had more questions than answers. But I wasn’t able to shake this truth: While it’s often easy to give people in poverty what they need; it’s empowering to help them meet their own needs. They don’t need more charity. They need more opportunity.”
I determined at the beginning of 2014 that this business would be about more than just soap. I committed that as God gave sales, I would use a portion of the income to support ministries that are aiding women and children. As sales have increased, my opportunity to participate in various ministries has increased.
One thing I started doing this year was accessing my Amazon account through Amazon Smile. By going to www.smile.amazon.com, I can designate that a portion of my purchases be donated to a charity of my choice. A few of the charities on the Amazon list are Freeset in Kolkata, India, Grace Dental and Medical Missions out of Methuen, MA, and Hidden Treasure Christian School in Taylors, SC. It doesn’t cost me anything and it doesn’t change my Amazon account, but by setting my smile account to one of these ministries, I can help out in a small way.
Early in the year my daughter-in-law introduced me to SariBari, also in Kolkata, India. “Sari Bari is a safe place of employment where women who have been exploited in the sex trade or who are vulnerable to trafficking can experience a new life in the making.” A portion of the sales from this year was used to sponsor the training and mentoring for two women.
“58ten is a community of Christians acting on behalf of orphans” in the country of Kenya. “If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.” – Isaiah 58:10 At the end of 2013, the orphanage partnered with the Kitui Baby Home and funds were raised through the sponsorship of cribs. I was able to sponsor half a crib this year and hopefully someone else sponsored the other half!
And finally, back to the blog mentioned at the beginning. It was through this particular blog post that I became acquainted with Fair Trade Friday. “Fair Trade Friday exists as an avenue for women to empower women. We are tackling poverty through job opportunity and empowerment rather than enablement. 100% of the proceeds support the artisans, hundreds of women and children from all over the world. FTF is a ministry of Mercy House Kenya.” With the purchase of a Fair Trade box, you receive products made by women all over the world but you are giving so much more than money. Women “are being introduced to God, they are learning skills and they are finding hope.”
As we begin 2015, let us continue to look for ways to bless others as we have been blessed.
Giving Back – Women helping women in Jesus’ name.
Edited: Amazon has since ceased the Smile program.
Fair Trad Friday has recently become Mercy House Global