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Franciscan Peacemakers provides housing and healing to women survivors of sexual exploitation by producing and selling bath and body products. The Franciscan Peacemakers Social Enterprise at 34th and Lisbon opened last fall after several years of selling soap and lotion at markets and events. The first few months of opening a brick and mortar were very promising and led to Franciscan Peacemakers employing 4 survivors with living wage jobs – allowing women to rebuild their lives and stay strong in their recovery.
The pandemic popped that soap bubble a bit as sales at numerous Spring events and markets were cancelled. With the extension of the Safer at Home order, Franciscan Peacemakers anticipates well over $50,000 lost in anticipated sales. But, the employees of this nonprofit social enterprise were not about to let all the momentum generated to date go down the drain!
The flagship product made by Franciscan Peacemakers is bar soap – one of the primary tools in the fight against COVID-19. The virus dies with proper handwashing – from the very beginning of the pandemic, this is information that no one has refuted. And since more people than ever are seeking support through local food pantries for basic provisions, the Franciscan Peacemakers saw an opportunity to wash two birds with one bar of soap (so to speak, we don’t recommend actually trying this) by encouraging the community to donate Franciscan Peacemakers soap to local food pantries!
The Community Care Soap Special – $65 for 12 bars of soap – has given the community a way to keep the Franciscan Peacemakers survivors housed, connected, and earning a living wage while simultaneously providing more than 1000 bars of soap to 1000 families in need in the Milwaukee area. With the extension of the Safer at Home order through the end of May, the pantries served by this effort are requesting even more soap.
To participate, simply use this link – www.tinyurl.com/communitycaresoap – to add “Community Care Soap Special” to your virtual shopping cart (no wiping down needed)! Choose “Donate to Pantry” and Franciscan Peacemakers will distribute to participating pantries. Or Choose “Deliver to Me” and be the hero on your block, making sure your neighbors have the tools they need in the fight against COVID-19 by distributing the soap yourself, from a safe distance, of course!
Visit www.giftsforthejourney.com – the e-commerce site of Franciscan Peacemakers for more information or to shop for your own needs. Also check out specially curated Care Packages for Uncertain Times filled with Milwaukee-based products. Every purchase makes a difference in the Milwaukee community by keeping women survivors on their recovery journey.
About Franciscan Peacemakers:
Franciscan Peacemakers provides a pathway to a sustainable healthy, safe and productive life for women engaging in prostitution due to trauma, human sex trafficking or drug addiction.
The service approach of Franciscan Peacemakers includes:
(1) Outreach: Hospitality to women engaging in street prostitution
(2) Housing and Healing: Clare Community
(3) Employment: Social Enterprise
(4) Education: Speaking and Advocacy
To learn more about Franciscan Peacemakers visit www.franciscanpeacemakers.com or email info@franciscanpeacemakers.com.
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