Supply the Love: Israel

In 2017 we launched Supply the Love! We supply the camera and film and you supply the love.  We would love to have you be an ambassador of Print the Love! If you are traveling to an under-resourced community anywhere on the globe in the next year and would like to participate in spreading random photo kindness to the local people, lets chat! Together we can make a difference! Application is online.

The Supply the Love program is 100% supported by donors. If you are not travelling, you can still donate funds towards the camera and film for those who are.

As part of the program, we ask that ambassadors write a short description of their experience. All the words are their own.

Laura in Israel

A small team from Rebecca Bender Initiative (www.rebeccabender.org) traveled to Israel to support another organization like ours called The Red Carpet that fights human sex trafficking and supports survivors.

The Red Carpet, located in a garbage- and needle-laden alley within the “red light” district of Tel Aviv, is a place for reprieve for prostitutes—many of whom have been trafficked from surrounding countries and the former Soviet Union—who now have no family or support system. Everyone who comes to the Red Carpet Center may receive nail treatment, a pedicure, hair treatment, medical supplies, hygiene products, and food.  They also find a comfortable place to rest, take part in art therapy, take a warm shower, and receive clean clothes.

But one thing they had never before received at Red Carpet was a photo of themselves that they could keep. In many cases, the photo they were most excited to receive was one taken with someone they had come to love at the Red Carpet Center. The greatest gift was to receive a photo of themselves with someone who had really seen them as a human being that is worthy of love; someone who sees them as beautiful, and valuable to their core rather than as simply a body to be bought and sold. For a number of clients, this was the photo they seemed to cherish most!

To maintain the privacy of the survivors, we have posted only photos of the Center and not any photos that depict the faces of clients that utilize it.  Nonetheless, I can attest to the deep joy and impact that was felt by each and every survivor who got to keep their photos. In fact, the founder of Red Carpet said:

“I don’t have enough words to thank you for this. This day with the camera was one of the highlights in the Red Carpet.”