Get Involved with Illuminate in November!
How you can help support domestic violence shelters
Our non-profit is always busiest during November and December as we fundraise and shop for the various shelters that we sponsor. With so many eggs in one basket, it can be hard to know exactly who you're donating to.
Allow us to explain where the donations go
Project 2026 first and foremost benefits RDAP, otherwise known as the Rape Domestic Abuse Program of North Platte, Nebraska. RDAP was nominated on our website as a shelter that we should support (you can nominate one year-round on our website too!) by a local human trafficking survivor. With their cause being our main focus this year, $10,000 via in-kind donations will go to their shelter. We do this by requesting the shelters needs list and purchasing multiples of everything, including toiletries, clothing, and even large items like car seats. In addition, we support the children living in the shelter by purchasing holiday gifts.
Our sub-sponsorship will go to Stephy's House, an advocacy initiative and heart-centered mission in Lancaster, Ohio. SH will receive $1,000 to assist with continuing their efforts of education, tools, and guidance on domestic violence in their local area. You can help Stephy's House out on your own by attending their tenth annual 4-Person Scramble Golf Tournament with cash prizes this Halloween, and check out the Illuminate-sponsored hole while you're there!
As always, we donate $500 to each former Project. 2023: The Center for Prevention of Abuse in Peoria, Illinois. 2024: Working Against Violence, Inc. in Rapid City, South Dakota. 2025: Safe Homes in Augusta, Georgia. This is done through two options, either standard in-kind wish list donation or Adopt-A-Family holiday gift format and is selected by the shelters Illuminate representative at our November board meeting. The representative is the person that originally nominated the shelter as a Project; and they have the option to assist with dropping off the donation to the designated shelter or to send items USPS via the shelters online wish list.
$500 donations and sub-sponsorships are completed during the month of November, with our major Drop-Off event taking place on-site, in which our non-profit members travel from across the country to North Platte (or wherever the Project is).
Now you know about the cause... How do we fundraise?
Through candle sales! That's what Illuminate is all about. Our online candle store is open for one month only, November. Illuminators, which are donors with monthly giving plans through our fundraising platform, GiveButter, have access to the special pre-sale in October. We've expanded our store to offer more than just candles this year. In addition, there will also be homemade soaps by MoonRose Soap Co., car air fresheners, and merchandise. The good thing about November is that holiday shopping has begun and our inventory is great for gifts and stocking stuffers. To get discounted candles, you can purchase in bulk.
If you don't want to purchase from our online store, there is a simple donation option through GiveButter and also linked here: Illuminate LTW | Illuminate
You don't have to tag your donation to any specific team or member. However, if you are donating to help someone reach their individual goal, you can do that as well. You're also more than welcome to create your own fundraising team and profile to help gather donations for domestic violence and human trafficking survivors! You can even donate anonymously. There are so many choices.
If you want to hang out with us in-person, we've grown to sell candles in both the Peoria, Illinois area and Syracuse, New York. This year, we will be back again at Tinsel the Town, a holiday inspired shopping experience by So Chic Boutique. This has always been one of my favorite events, so it's very exciting that we get to sell at it. We've also partnered with Sparrow & Dove Boutique in Syracuse to offer our candles at local events in New York. You can see everywhere that we'll be here on our Events page: Events | Illuminate
No matter how you choose to support- we're thankful that you're here, that you helped, and that you care enough to help light the way against trafficking & abuse for survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking.
