For the City Times

For the fourth consecutive year and back by popular demand, the Mid-State Technical College Diversity Committee will host jewelry parties at its Marshfield, Stevens Point and Wisconsin Rapids campuses to benefit Women At Risk, International (WAR International).

Dollars raised at the event support women and children in a safe house provided by the humanitarian organization based in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

A variety of items will be available for purchase, including fashionable handmade jewelry, handbags and scarves. The selection is similar to what is available in a department store, and every $250 in sales at the event supports a woman for a month in a WAR safe house. Many of the items are handmade by these same women, helping them build important self-sustaining skills.

“Every year, between 700,000 and 4 million individuals are sold into some form of exploitation, and it’s not just an international problem” said Natasha Miller, Mid-State’s student life coordinator. “Hosting WAR International jewelry parties continues to be a great way for Mid-State to embrace diversity and bring awareness to the very real problem of human trafficking.”

The jewelry parties take place from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. on the following dates by location: Marshfield campus on December 5, Wisconsin Rapids campus on December 6 and Stevens Point campus on December 7. The events are free to attend and open to the public. For more information and specific locations, visit mstc.edu/events.