THE SPIRIT OF GIVING COMES ALIVE
Survivors at The Monarch are finding peace and joy this holiday season as they decorate the residential shelter, bake cookies and trim the Christmas tree. For many, it will be their first Christmas since childhood in a safe, warm, loving environment.
While at The Monarch, their journey to create a new life focuses on weekly therapeutic and life-skills counseling, educational advancement, vocational training, and part-time or full-time employment.
To encourage survivors to achieve their individual goals, several organizations and individuals have come forward to play "Santa," making many of their holiday wishes come true. Among these special donors are Abundant Life Christian Fellowship, Crowne Plaza Hotel Foster City, Lam Research, One Heart to Another, Salesforce, Barbara Allen and Miranda Hudson.
You, too, can help change lives through your generous financial gifts to Freedom House.
The annual
Holiday Matching Grant Challenge
now is underway with the opportunity for Freedom House to receive more than
$150,000
between now and January 15, 2018. Every dollar donated during this period will be doubled up to the $77,000 grant amount. Kindly consider making
a monthly or one-time gift at
www.FreedomHouseSF.org/Donate. For those who prefer to donate by mail, please send your
check to Freedom House at P.O. Box 2065, Burlingame, CA 94011. Freedom House is a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit, which allows your gifts to be 100% tax deductible.
We also would like to encourage you to share with your family, friends and business associates how human trafficking exists right here in our own backyard. Help build community awareness during your holiday gatherings about the need to provide transitional shelter and long-term aftercare services to local survivors of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor. Survivors count on you to be their voice!
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REMEMBERING MAYOR ED LEE
The Bay Area abolitionist community lost a champion of human rights with the sudden passing of San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee. Among his many accomplishments,
he launched the Mayor's Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking to review efforts to improve the City's response to human trafficking and identify gaps in services for local survivors. Since its formation, the Task Force has taken a comprehensive, victim-centered approach to effectively intervene in trafficking situations and focus on long-term solutions. Freedom House is among the many agencies which participate in these meetings.
In 2013, Mayor Lee (pictured) presented the Modern-Day Abolitionist Award to Jaida Im, Freedom House founder and executive director, during Human Trafficking Awareness Month ceremonies.
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SHOP AMAZON AND SUPPORT THE CAUSE
It's easy to contribute funds to help survivors when you shop online at AmazonSmile (https://smile.amazon.com) L
og-in by using your existing Amazon account information, then scroll down to find your favorite charity. Freedom House is listed under its corporate name:
TWBD, Inc.
Please remember this important step, as 0.5% of the price of eligible AmazonSmile purchases will be donated to TWBD, dba Freedom House. No matter if your shopping list includes everyday or hard-to-find items, you can make a difference.
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VOLUNTEER APPLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE
Training begins March 3, 2018 in San Mateo County
Decide to make a personal impact in the fight against modern-day slavery by becoming a Freedom House volunteer. Opportunities are available to serve as an Advocate Volunteer or work directly with survivors as a Shelter Volunteer at The Monarch.
Advocate trainees attend a one-day session to learn about human trafficking in order to educate the public about the issues and how Freedom House is addressing the needs of survivors. To be considered for one of the limited Shelter Volunteer positions, all candidates must submit a completed application and undergo a LiveScan background check. Selected Shelter Volunteer trainees will complete the required 40-hour training course.
Advocate and Shelter Volunteer trainees attend a joint session on Saturday, March 3, between 8:45 a.m. and 5 p.m. Shelter Volunteers continue their coursework on the following dates:
Tuesday, March 6, 6 - 9 pm
Saturday, March 10, 8:45 am - 5 pm
Tuesday, March 13, 6 - 9 pm
Saturday, March 17, 8:45 am - 5 pm
Tuesday, March 20, 6 - 9 pm
Saturday, March 24, 8:45 am - 5 pm
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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Sila made the move to the Bay Area from Southern California in 2010. She first heard about Freedom House through her church, then connected with our advocates at Freedom Summit. Upon learning about human trafficking, she realized how she had come face-to-face in her travels abroad with individuals who were being trafficked. Her heart grew passionate about this issue. With a desire to help, but not sure where to start, she heard about the Freedom House volunteer training and jumped at the opportunity to bring hope and justice into the lives of those affected by human trafficking. Sila spends time advocating for Freedom House at events and driving the survivors at The Monarch to appointments. Sila comments that she always is humbled by her encounters with the women as they "radiate grit, determination, love and kindness." She feels blessed to be able to work with those who she says "have been through hell and come out the other side."
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