December 2017 Newsletter

Hands & Feet in Action

“I am Kaneshia Greene, a faith-believing, football-watching, Gamecock-loving, southern girl. I first discovered my heart for trafficking victims while working at my previous job. I assisted foster care youth, some who experienced trafficking as a part of their past. I knew that I needed and wanted to do more to help them. Working with the Commission for Minority Affairs, I have the pleasure of managing the Human Trafficking and Immigration Initiative Program. As the program coordinator I am responsible for developing community projects that incorporate advocacy and prevention of Human Trafficking and creating advocacy and reporting tools for immigrants in South Carolina. I work diligently alongside some of the most hard-working community organizations to continue the efforts of eradicating human trafficking in our state.

One of the amazing organizations that I have partnered with is Lighthouse for Life. I was blessed with the opportunity of meeting Jen Thompson, who has been so accommodating to all of my projects and future plans for community projects. In teaming up with Lighthouse for Life, they will be presenting to the college community through the I am Her: Prevention Series and be a panelist in a Movie Review and Talk Session with the community.  I will also partner with them by utilizing a universal presentation that they organized.

If you would like to see Lighthouse for Life at work with CMA, please come out to the I am Her: Prevention Series to hear their presentation ‘I am PRICELESS.’  It’s on January 24^th, 2018 at 6:00 pm at 1620 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201.

You can also catch them as a panelist at the CMA and Richland County Anti-Human Trafficking Force’s Movie Review and Talk Session on January 9^th, 2018 at 6:00 pm at the Richland Co. Library, 1431 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC 29201.

I have been having an amazing experience working with everyone at Lighthouse for Life and I look forward to future projects.”

Kaneshia Greene – Human Trafficking and Immigration Initiative Coordinator

Commission for Minority Affairs

Karis Home Up-date

We honestly feel like we have been on the ‘home-run stretch’ of our Karis Home renovations much longer than we had planned or would have liked.  We were in our final stage of inspections when we found out a list if items that were required by the fire marshal that we had not known about before, such as fire safety strobe lights, and smoke detectors that tied directly into a fire monitoring company (this is separate from the smoke detectors that are tied into our security system).  After more red tape to secure exactly what had to be on this ‘new list’, these items have finally been installed, and we are again scheduled to have our final inspections this week!  Join us in prayer that we pass!

Once the renovations are checked off as complete, the house itself is all ready to go!  At that point, we can invite DSS to come do their inspections to see if they’ll grant us licensure.

Beyond renovation completion, and obtaining our DSS licensure, we are in the process of aquiring our final two staff members needed to operate Karis Home.

Thank you for your faithful support as we continue to move forward and rest in God’s perfect timing for opening those doors!

Financial Update

• Monthly Income: November Income: $18,767.99
• Monthly Expenses: November Expenses: $21,557.71
• Monthly Operating Budget: $35,000
• Regular Monthly Support: $7,614

Breakdown of Monthly Support

• 3 businesses: $800
• 11 churches/groups: $2,900
• 117 individuals: $3,914

Next Event

SAVE THE DATE!

January 20

If you’d like to know more or purchase your tickets, click here.

February 10

You may find a complete listing of our up-coming events either on our website or facebook page.

News

Lighthouse for Life News

Dear Lighthouse for Life Family,

 Within the past few months we have seen an amazing rise is the number of agencies, families and survivors themselves reaching out to us for help of one form or another.

We are so incredibly thankful for the chance to serve in these personal ways. We attribute this increase in calls at least in part to the amount of awareness we’ve seen happening across our state this year.

Recently we talked with a mom seeking help for her daughter and I’ll spare you the details but it appears we were able to help this mom keep her daughter from falling prey to a trafficker.

Your gifts are actually saving lives and preventing people from being trafficked!

No words can adequately convey the value of a life but I hope this story will encourage you to know you ARE making a difference.

Sincerely,

 Jen

Columbia News

Lexington, SC is stepping up to take action against human trafficking!

On November 21st, Lexington County led a sting that resulted in the arrest of two traffickers sexually exploiting children. Read the report from WLTX for more.

Cola Daily also shares how on Wednesday, December 6, a man from Lexington was also arrested for sexual explotation of minors via the use of pornography.

South Carolina News

If you’d like to see more of what is happening around the state or how to plug into a task force near to you, please visit the state task force website at:

humantrafficking.scag.gov

New Partner Highlight