If your new year's resolution includes getting organized, helping others, or looking good while staying comfortable in 2021 - we're here to help.
Not only is January synonymous with fresh starts, it’s also National Slavery and Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Unfortunately, this problem is prevalent close to home with 16,000 to 25,000 women and girls trafficked in Chicago annually.
Victims of trafficking don’t have the chance to finish their schooling, nor have the chance to develop a work history. When rescued, these survivors struggle to find legitimate jobs, leading them to be re-victimized. That’s why we're partnering with the Salt & Light Coalition to provide resources for victims of human trafficking to not only survive, but thrive.
HOW IT WORKS
Now through International Women’s Day on March 8th, 2021, Arya Athleisure will be accepting donations of gently used women’s professional clothes to donate to the Salt & Light Coalition in order to prepare thrivers to enter the workforce. In return, we will give each donor an Arya gift card.
1. Clean out your closet. For every two items of gently used women's professional clothing donated, Arya Athleisure will provide $10 in gift cards (up to $50 per person).
2. Tell us what you're donating. Email contact@aryaathleisure.com with subject line "Salt & Light Donation" and how many items of clothing you're donating.
- If you're local to Chicago: We can work to coordinate a contactless pickup of your donation. If you'd prefer to ship your donation, follow the step below.
- If you're not local: Weigh your donation, and include the weight in your email to contact@aryaathleisure.com. We'll send you a pre-paid shipping label and once we receive your donation, you'll receive your Arya gift card.
The Salt & Light Coalition empowers survivors through workforce development with a curriculum designed by Dr. Izabel Olson, founder, executive director, and Learning Scientist with a PhD from Northwestern University. The workforce development program teaches “Thrivers” practical and professional skills needed to generate income, and it’s effective. One year after graduation, 80% of Thrivers still have a job with a 0% recidivism rate - a remarkable statistic, considering that the Thrivers come into the program with 17 arrests on average. "Salt and Light has helped me find my voice, my confidence, and my faith. I never knew what was like to set goals and successfully complete them. Since Salt and Light my life has changed for the better forever," said Taylor, a Thriver who graduated from the third cohort of the Salt & Light curriculum.
Unfortunately, we still live in a world that doesn’t allow all womxn the chance to be what they aspire to be. As a Chicago-based company, it is important for us to help strengthen the community, and we are grateful to be in a position to help. The COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly challenging for The Salt & Light Coalition, so we are asking womxn who are primarily able to work from home to clean out their closets and donate their professional clothes to the Salt & Light Thrivers who could really use them to help get back on their feet.
If you are able, please also consider donating directly to the Salt & Light Coalition via the link on their website.
Have a cause that's dear to your heart? We'd love to hear your story. We are proud to support charitable partners that are doing the work to strengthen our communities.