Elaine Green of Church of the Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in Oswego, wore a dress daily in December 2021 as part of the Dressember.org campaign against human trafficking. She surpassed her fundraising goal of $2,500, by raising $2,777.15 with two days to go!
Green said, “I choose to (be an) advocate with Dressember because I believe in the inherent dignity of all people. Human trafficking is a $150 billion dollar industry and I want to do my part to end it. Join me this year as I continue to educate myself and others about this injustice and who it impacts most.
“Dressember is more than an awareness campaign; it’s an opportunity to join a global movement of over 32,000 advocates worldwide. Together, we’ve raised over $13 million and counting to provide essential support to trafficking survivors around the world.
“What may seem like a silly style challenge has made a tremendous global impact and I’m honored to be a small part of that. When you donate to Dressember, you support prevention, intervention and survivor empowerment programs around the world. “
In 2005, Dressember founder Blythe Hill began hearing about the issue of human trafficking. Despite her deep sense of urgency to help, she felt helpless. She wasn’t a lawyer or a doctor or a social worker; her interests and talents were in fashion, trend analysis and blogging.
In 2009, Hill challenged herself to wear a dress every day of December and launch Dressember. Every year since then, more people joined in until her one-person challenge blossomed into an international movement to fight human trafficking.
Hill said, “When enough people use their voices to advocate for change, things begin to shift. Dressember is much more than an awareness campaign; we’re a social movement rooted in the belief that all people deserve to be free.”
To learn more, visit www.dressember.org, call the Good Shepherd church office at 630-554-3269 or e-mail office@goodshepherdoswego.org.
—Al Benson