Loose Change to Loosen Chains
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This past semester, you had a new addition to your floor in your elbow lounge: change collection boxes. They are apart of a new student-run project that we have started in Horton (also being started in a couple other dorms). We are so blessed here at Biola, and this is an opportunity to bless others. All of the loose change that is collected in the boxes will be donated to an organization picked by Horton residents.
The first organization we have picked is the International Justice Mission (IJM). Specifically, to a program they have called “Loose Change to Loosen Chains (LC2LC).” IJM is a human rights agency that rescues victims of violence, sexual exploitation, slavery, and oppression. Many of the slaves are children, who have been sold into slavery by their families to pay a debt. Owners trap these slaves with exorbitant interest rates that make it impossible for the slaves to win their freedom. A 7th-grade boy in Virginia created this loose change program, which has been implemented by many schools, youth groups, Sunday school classes, and college groups.
IJM estimates that it costs them $500 to conduct the work necessary to help rescue a victim of bonded slavery. We in Horton have set a goal of raising $1000, which would free two people.
This is a collaborative effort between North and South Horton. Together, with something as simple as loose change, we hope to give a few people the gift of freedom.
In December, we sent in our first check to IJM. They had a donor that matched all donations received for LC2LC in December 07, so the money we donated was doubled!
If you are interested in helping empty the boxes and counting the money (we have a change counter/sorter), please notify me. We would love your help. Remember to empty to your change into the boxes now that you’re back from break!