Have you ever learned about a big problem in our world and had some of these thoughts?
That’s so awful, it breaks my heart! I wish I could do something… but the problem is too big, and too far away, how can I make an impact? I really hope someone fixes that issue… maybe the government could step in, or a big charity… someone needs to do something.
ONE LIFE AT A TIME
SLS exists to improve the quality of life in our community. Through our service, we strive to inspire hope, personal growth, and the determination to lead a victorious life.
And we know from our own work in the community that it is always worth helping individuals, one life at a time. It doesn’t matter that we feel unequipped to fix the whole problem, our efforts are completely worth it to each and every person that we are able to help.
GROWING OUR IMPACT
As an organization we have formed relationships over the years with local charities who are making a positive impact on our community. We are honored to support these charities and their work.
Recently our leadership team was introduced to an organization that is making a global impact. They tackle some of the toughest issues in the world: extreme poverty, human trafficking, and refugee crises. Venture is a Twin Cities-based organization that serves in areas of the world that are the least reached and least resourced by partnering with local leaders in those communities to end some of the world’s greatest injustices.
THE PROBLEM
We learned from the team at Venture that as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, global poverty has risen significantly. They helped us better understand the direct correlation between poverty and human trafficking.
For example, if an entire village is on the verge of starving to death, traffickers may prey on the dire situation by offering the village adults money, food and medicines in exchange for some of the children. Can you imagine choosing between watching your entire family starve to death, or selling one child to save the rest?
Some quick facts:
- The global pandemic and lockdowns have plunged an additional 120 million people into extreme poverty.
- There are over 700 million people on this planet living in extreme poverty and 50% of those are children.
- Lack of food, water and essential medicine creates a breeding ground for human trafficking, a $150 billion per year industry.
- There are an estimated 45 million people held in slavery today, more than ever before in human history.
HOW WE CAN MAKE A GLOBAL IMPACT
This problem is HUGE and unbelievably heartbreaking. We can’t solve the whole problem, but we can do something.
What if, just like we do here in our local community, we focused on one life at a time? What if we helped feed one child at a time in a poverty stricken area? Not just feeding a child one meal, but committing to continually feed ONE child for every ONE client we serve here?
That is exactly what we’re going to do. Beginning June 2021, we are making a one-for-one commitment in our partnership with Venture. For every client we serve at SLS – across all 4 divisions – we will commit to continually feeding one child. By feeding one child for every one client we serve, we could provide meals on an ongoing basis for 1500 children in poverty.
Our efforts won’t end global poverty or human trafficking, but we could help save hundreds of children’s lives, and we might prevent dozens of families avoid the impossible decision of feeding their families or selling a child into trafficking.
As a part of the SLS community, you contribute to the impact we are able to make. We are proud to be able to say that for every client we help here in Minnesota, we’re also doing something to help children overcome extreme poverty.
LEARN MORE
To learn more about our local and global impact and how we got to where we are today, check out this blog post and follow the links to visit the websites of our partners.
