Crop ‘til it Stops Raises $$, Awareness

SI of Salt Lake hosted its 3^rd annual Crop ‘til it Stops scrapbooking fundraiser for domestic violence awareness on Saturday, January 19, 2013.  Funds raised from this event will go to the Utah Domestic Violence Council in support of their LinkLine – the line that connects victims in crisis to protection and services.

On January 2, 2013, the Utah Domestic Violence Council reported that there had been 29 domestic violence deaths in 2012.  The breakdown was:  12 women, 7 men, and 10 male perpetrators who committed suicide.

Statistics show that one in four women will experience domestic abuse in her lifetime.  As I looked around at the women at our event, that really came home.  One in four.  Statistically speaking, some of the women there, laughing, chatting, enjoying the fun and friendship – some of these women had experienced domestic violence first-hand.

The Utah Domestic Violence Council brings a ray of hope to women of Utah.  Salt Lake Soroptimists are proud to help them in their mission.

Crop 'til it Stops was featured on the Channel 4 news!  We thank ABC4 reporter and anchor Kim Johnson for attending and broadcasting our event.  You can view the broadcast at this link. 

Today is Human Trafficking Awareness Day

In honor of Human Trafficking Awareness Day, please allow me to re-post the following, originally found at liveyourdream.org.

Last month, in honor of the United Nations’ International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, Live Your Dream Supporters (“Dreamers”),
(1) obtained and distributed sex trafficking awareness-raising materials like the STOP Trafficking Rack Card available through www.liveyourdream.org, and
(2) sent messages to Congress encouraging U.S. government leaders to work to abolish modern-day slavery by supporting the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act.

One month later there is good news but also more work to be done.

On December 31, 2012, U.S. President Barack Obama demonstrated his anti-trafficking support by issuing a Presidential Proclamation declaring January 2013 National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

However, on January 2, 2013, the 112th U.S. Congress came to a close before taking action to pass the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act. This important legislation is needed to prevent trafficking, protect survivors, and prosecute those responsible for these crimes. Neglecting to take action on this issue failed the hundreds of thousands of women and girls ensnared in sex trafficking in the United States—a crime that deprives women and girls of their freedom, condemning them to a life of gang rape, violence, abuse and psychological trauma.

At Live Your Dream, we will continue to work to secure the passage of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act during the 113th Session of U.S. Congress. And in the wake of this disappointment...
We want survivors to know we will continue to stand behind them. We are raising our voices, and we will be louder than ever!

Breakfast with Santa Keeps on Giving

To quote one of the Breakfast with Santa volunteers, "we get a fishes and loaves miracle every year."  This past year was no different.  We served more single mothers than ever before and still had plenty of toys and other gifts left over.

Soroptimist of Salt Lake donated dozens of left-over games and toys from our Breakfast with Santa event to the Sunnyvale Neighborhood Center.  This new community center runs two after school programs in the West Millcreek neighborhood, serving over 40 children and their families.

Our donation couldn't have came in a more appropriate time. Just the week before, all of their supplies, games and toys were destroyed in a water leak. Most of these children are from low-income, immigrant/ refugee/ single mom families. This center provides programming and food for the children after school, many stay there till late at night because their parents are at work. 

We received this delightful thank you card just today.  It is truly heartwarming to know that the donations we received for Breakfast with Santa were welcomed by this wonderful community program.