Introduction
Thanks to industrial, medical, and technological advancement, many people worldwide now have the privilege of a comfortable living surrounded by loving individuals. Unfortunately, not all people possess the same luxury of being in a safe environment and having a supportive circle. Indeed, millions of women are exposed to sexual abuse, are subject to human trafficking, live in poverty, and suffer from various addictions. Therefore, the non-profit organization that I would like to discuss is Thistle Farms. It helps the abuse victims move away from their traumatic experiences, regain confidence, improve mental health, and restore financial stability. I believe this issue deserves special attention since I know firsthand people who were severely traumatized after being sexually abused. In this short talk, I want to show you how even a small donation from you can change the lives of such women for good.
Discussion
As I said in the beginning, millions of women need help and assistance from the community to overcome poverty and heal emotional wounds caused by abuse. According to the statistical data from the World Health Organization, approximately 736 million female individuals of all ages are exposed to sexual abuse at some point in their lives (Naik & Mishra, 2022). Furthermore, according to the 2018 U.S. census, among all people living in poverty, 56% were women, corresponding to more than 21 million people (Bleiweis et al., 2020). Despite various federal programs to fight poverty, these figures do not seem to improve. Conversely, it appears that the problem worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic since many women lost their jobs and hence financial stability and some were exposed to domestic abuse amid the lockdown. While it is vital to raise awareness of the overwhelming numbers, it is of utmost importance to find the solution and help those in need.
Many non-profit organizations across the states are eager to help women with traumatic experiences, and Thistle Farms is one of them. According to this organization’s official website, its mission is to help “women survivors recover and heal from prostitution, trafficking, and addiction” (Thistle Farms, n.d.). This non-profit enterprise provides a sanctuary for women and sells handmade products made by the victims to raise money. All this money is used to provide financial aid to those who want to heal from trauma, provide supportive housing, and help them regain financial independence. So, if you wonder how you can help Thistle Farms and these women, let me explain.
The contribution to any non-profit organization that helps women not only saves lives but ensures comfortable living. Donations can help provide victims with therapy sessions, which help them work on their traumas. Additionally, financial aid can help provide appropriate housing and nutrition to women since many victims do not have access to such resources. Thistle Farms (n.d.) believes “donation gives a woman a safe place to live, a meaningful job, and a lifelong sisterhood of support that will help her live a life that she never thought was possible.” Trust me, in this situation, any amount of money raised can contribute to a good cause.
Thistle Farms offers several ways people can contribute, which constitutes monetary assistance and psychological support. You can purchase a variety of its home and skin care products to support the victims of abuse. You can directly donate via the buttons Give Today or Apple Pay. The donations vary in size and can be in any amount one wishes. Please note that it is possible to choose a one-time donation or a recurring one. Moreover, individuals can volunteer at local non-profit centers to help women in need.
Conclusion
Now, you know how many women are affected by poverty and sexual abuse. While charity can contribute to a better life for a victim, simple emotional support is always encouraged. Donations can come in different sizes, but they ensure stability in the lives of victims, providing them with jobs, housing, and proper nutrition. Helping a woman who was a victim of sexual abuse, addiction, trafficking, or poverty does not have to be financial; thus, anyone can participate in protecting the lives of millions of victims.
References
Bleiweis, R., Boesch, D., & Gaines, A. G. (2020). The basic facts about women in poverty. American Progress. Web.
Naik, C., & Mishra, B. K. (2022). Domestic violence in COVID-19 pandemic situation: A study of population in western Odisha. International Journal of Home Science, 8(2), 221–223.
Thistle Farms. (n.d.). Our mission. Web.