Annual “Buy Flowers, Not Girls” sale raises over $1400 to fight human trafficking
The Lighthouse Club’s table is set up in J-Top for the annual “Buy Flowers Not Girls” fundraiser.
Photo credit: Mi-Ree Zwick
By Mi-Ree Zwick
The Lighthouse Club’s “Buy Flowers Not Girls” fundraiser event raised $1433.50 on Valentine’s Day to help the International Justice Mission end human trafficking.
At a booth in J-Top, Lighthouse club members worked to sell hundreds of flowers, one flower at a time. People visited the fundraiser between classes, buying flowers to gift to their significant others, friends, and themselves.
Lighthouse’s Vice-President Ramona Ojeda said that the sale went amazing and that “so many people came in and bought from us.”
All of the money raised will be donated to the International Justice Mission, which works to prevent human trafficking around the world, including in the United States.
“The fundraising event helps the cause because it provides IJM with resources,” said Ojeda, “whether that is rescue efforts and/or aftercare for survivors of human trafficking.”
To help Lighthouse’s cause, the Social Science Club set up a card-making booth to pair the newly bought flowers with a Valentine’s Day card. Madelyn Graham, Vice-President of the Social Science Club, said club members wanted to “spread a little bit of Valentine’s Day spirit and also assist Lighthouse in their efforts.”
Ethan Reynolds said he bought flowers for his friends to “do a little more than just say thank you.” He said he was not aware of the fundraiser’s purpose.
Other students bought flowers knowing that they were supporting a good cause. Hannah Ethridge said that she bought flowers for two reasons.
“I really just enjoy having flowers and I don’t usually take the time to get them,” Ethridge said, “and secondly, because the Lighthouse was putting it on.”
Ethridge wanted to support Lighthouse’s cause even in a small way with the money that she had.
Lizzie Wells said that she bought flowers because “you know, I like flowers” and because she knew that the money was going towards a good cause.
“It helps with stopping human trafficking and helping human trafficking victims,” Wells said.
Even Concordia’s mascot, Bruiser, made an appearance to show campus support for ending human trafficking. Bruiser bought flowers and gifted them to people around J-Top.
