I’m big on name meanings. Hepzibah House grabbed my heart when I heard what it meant.

Hepzibah House was born in January 2008 after John and Becky Dymond heard Derek Loux speak about human trafficking. They were heartbroken by what they heard – While the most lucrative criminal enterprise in the world is the illegal drug trade, human trafficking is currently second and expected to overtake drug trafficking in the next few years due to lowered legal risks and higher profitability. A kilo of cocaine may be sold once; a human may be sold again and again. Horrific. In global terms, human trafficking was estimated by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2006 to be a $10 billion dollar industry. Up to 80% of those people are women and children, most of those exploited in the sex industry.

And so, the Dymonds followed God’s call to do something.

Hepzibah House is a faith-based safe house and multi-faceted residential treatment facility for women freed from human trafficking in the south Florida area. They use art, music, talk and equine therapy, integrating both secular and faith-based therapies. In addition to addressing the mental and emotional repercussions of having survived human trafficking, they teach English as as needed and basic skills for securing jobs and independent living, preparing the women for an independent future beyond this tragic experience.

They sell items on Etsy to benefit their nonprofit. And, one particular item caught my eye–Hepzibah Girls. A key supporter was praying about ways she could lend additional support and this artwork–“junk art”–was born.

The world marginalizes women who have been trafficked, judging them and discounting the value of their lives. But, God delights in each one of these women. And, these girls symbolize God’s heart.

Oh, these are so a must-purchase gift this season, people. So fun and funky and such a meaningful message and cause behind them.

And, we are giving you a head start. Hepzibah House is offering one here as a giveaway in an effort to bless one of you and also promote the work they are doing. And, I’m all about promoting their work. Please join me.

They are including two of these bracelets too as an extra little goodie–think “stocking stuffer.”

They love children’s art. So, they print it on stuff. But, that’s not the only reason they do it.

The Arton Collection Project is dedicated to encouraging and supporting lil’ artists. As a mama to several lil’ artists myself, I like their thinking. Their mission is to keep art a part of every child’s education–a mission that is getting to be a tough one in recent years with budget cuts all over the place in our schools.

Arton donates 10% of all proceeds to the Americans for the Arts, the largest arts based non-profit in the US, and an additional 5% is put into a scholarship fund for the participating young artist. And, they use their online presence on their website and Facebook page to promote art for kids–you really ought to check it out and like their Facebook page to see all the neat stuff they post there.

Each of their designs has a story. The lil’ artists write a statement about their artwork, what it means, why they created it, how it makes them feel.

They are always looking for new lil’ artists to celebrate too–got one who might want to submit a piece for consideration? We did.

You may be seeing this masterpiece in a few months on their site–and, oh boy, she’d be proud as a peacock (overjoyed as an owl?) to see her work produced for the masses. Oh yes, she would.

So many giveaways to go – do come back and support the other places as well. Okay?

I’m so super excited supporting all these places. Hope you are too. How can you not be, really?

Be A Voice gave the thumbs up for THREE winners. My dear friend Julie who may very well become my one of my children’s mother-in-law, Kimmie Barnes, and Natasha H are the winners. Enjoy choosing the piece of your choice from Be A Voice!

Cheryl, who you will very soon learn more about, won the ruffle bum pants that I simply adore from Ribbons for Grace. Cheryl, if you can’t use them, I can think of a tiny tooshie who can! I’m not above begging. I love them that much.

Jenna from CallHerHappy.com won the pretty necklace from BFK/Better for Kids. Jenna, wear it and think of the beautiful children BFK serves around the world. Love accessories that mean something.

Week 2 and 10 ways to shop with purpose. Check.

Lots to come–look for them every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday until Christmas week. Don’t miss a single one, alright? And, share the link and spread the word – you can click on the little buttons under this post and so easily share on all your online spaces. Encourage everyone to shop with purpose this season.

There’s something that makes me want to do cartwheels when I hear about a regular person, a lay person, who feels called to do more and does it.

That’s how we all want to be, isn’t it? We want to hear the call clearly and be faithful in answering that call.

That’s how Better For Kids got started.

Here’s what they are doing–they partner with local churches and believers in Egypt and Ethiopia to share Jesus through caring for orphans and vulnerable children and families.

Their orphan home right outside of Cairo in Mokattam, Egypt is currently a home to 42 children. Because adoption is not legal in Egypt, there are more than 1 million children living on the streets. But, there are 42 less on the streets because of what they are doing.

Near the village of Zeway in Ethiopia, 20 live under the care of house mothers. Not only do they now sleep in beds with blankets and eat 3 meals a day, but they attend school and are growing into children of compassion themselves.

And, the impact of their work is being exponentially multiplied as these children grow under their care.

They have an Etsy store where they sell hand-stamped pieces with the letters BFK — all proceeds support their work.

I’ve got a necklace myself–it’s long and simple and looks cute on (though I promise you that having my 7-year-old take a picture of it on me turned out to be a picture I just wouldn’t want to share with you all).

But, more than being cute, I love what it stands for. And, I wear it and know that in so doing, I’m somehow a part of their work. It’s just a small way, but I’m standing with them.

And, you can too.

That’s all you gotta do to enter.
And, you have until Sunday the 13th at 9pm EST to do it–which is only 2 days away. So, get on it.
I’ll choose a winner using random.org after that.

And, go ahead, go buy something from the folks over at BFK knowing that you can wear or give a funky little something and be able to share how you supported children across the world with your purchase.

My giveaways before Christmas seem to be growing. More, more to come. Don’t forget to come back and enter each and every one–and share the links, okay?