Help end modern day slavery

Today is Human Trafficking Awareness Day…

It’s also the 146th anniversary of the day our 13th Amendment was introduced to Congress — which set out to abolish slavery in the United States.

Yet today — slavery still exists — in so many forms.

Sex trade, immigrant farmers working in Florida, children mining for coltan, chocolate and coffee farmers around the world — and so much more.

We encourage you to do a 5 things today…

1. Change your Twitter/Facebook/MySpace avatar to support One Voice to End Slavery:

2. Join One Voice to End Slavery

3. Visit the Human Trafficking section on Change.org and read at least 5 articles

4. Share the link to at least one story from Change.org on Facebook or Twitter

5. Watch David Bastone talk about human trafficking at Google:

Then let us know what you learn.

What impacted you the most? What did you learn when doing one (or all) of the steps above?

What other steps have you taken to end modern day slavery?

“Slavery”: photo by Victor C.M. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/victorcm)

Laundry Love 2009 re-cap

It’s been an amazing eight months and every month we walk away with another great memory and story and several new friends.

If nothing else, I love how Laundry Love helps make friends out of strangers.

On average we help 15-20 individuals and families each month, spending anywhere from $60 – $120 a month.

We’ve stuffed over 2500 quarters into laundry machines, helping over 120 individuals and families.

I just want to say a huge thanks to everyone who’s supported our efforts along the way. Looking forward to even more fun in 2010.

And if you’d like to get involved, we’d love to have you come join us the last Saturday of every month, or you can donate online as well.

Thanks again!

What project did you start in 2009 that you’ll continue on with in 2010?

Wash With Love

“a community of strangers that become friends”

“sometimes i feel like I’m the one that comes away with more change”

Sharing life at the Laundromat

It’s amazing how giving away a jar full of quarters can seem like such a big deal at times.

We want to hold on to our money and be “wise as a serpent” when it comes to giving that money away.

Yet, our Laundry Love friends continue to show us just how valuable our quarters can become when we decide to share them with others.

Laundry Love is not about giving away quarters and simply donating a couple hours of time each month — it really is about so much more.

Laundry Love Siloam Springs, AR

From our friends in Northwest Arkansas ::

Also take some time to listen to some of the great things The Cobblestone Project is doing in Northwest Arkansas, in addition to their two Laundry Love efforts, working towards a community without needs.