Lighthouse Club Raises $4000 to fight human trafficking in December

In December, Concordia’s Lighthouse club hosted two fundraising events where they raised almost $4,000 in an effort to stop human trafficking. 

In their first event, they hosted an on-campus thrift shop. Students and faculty donated clothes and volunteers organized the classroom so that it would look like a store on campus. 

The second event the club hosted was Dressember. In this event, volunteers wore a dress or a tie every day during the month of December to raise awareness for victims of human trafficking. Twenty people participated and they had almost as many methods of advocating. Students spread awareness by posting on social media, having intentional conversations with people and even sending out emails.  “It was definitely scary sometimes, but once you remember what you’re talking about and who you’re fighting for, it gets less scary,” said Brooke Lange, a member of the Lighthouse club fundraising for the event.  

The proceeds went to International Justice Mission, an organization that uses the donations to fund rescue missions and rehabilitation of trafficking victims. Lighthouse’s efforts are not stopping there. In February, they will be hosting their “Buy Flowers, Not Girls” event, where they will sell flowers where all the proceeds will go to victims of human trafficking.  

While the club has had an excellent showing in the month of December, they are always adding new members and volunteers and hope to continue to expand their reach and fundraising efforts. President of the club, Larissa Embree stated that “Lighthouse has been doing excellent work as long as it has been on campus, but this past school year, we have been able to increase both student and community engagement as well as the funds we’ve raised for each event. I am so proud of all the work everyone has put in this year and am honored to be the president of such an impactful organization.”  

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