Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) Gives to the Covenant House

Submitted by: Maria Trammel Sales Manager The Jekyll Island Authority Member since 2012

Your Community Outreach Committee partnered with the local PCMA chapter to celebrate Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) on April 4. The event brought together leaders from across the meetings and events industry, showcasing the impact that business meetings, conferences, conventions, incentive travel, trade shows, and exhibitions have on our industry. Meeting professionals across the world participate in the international day of advocacy. In 2018, over 206 events were held in 41 countries.

Our involvement for GMID was focused on expanding global efforts to put an end human trafficking.

Covenant House, located on the west side of downtown, was the selected charity for the event. MPI Georgia in conjunction the PCMA Southeast chapter proudly announce:

• Raised $6,367.47 with 100 percent of proceeds going directly to the Covenant House.
• Assembled 80 “Street Outreach” bags with items from the organization’s wish list to help support the needs of the young adult residents.
• And, most significantly, we were all inspired by the Covenant House speaker who shared information about the shelter and what the organization provides on a daily basis to help these young people, between the ages of 18-24, to become equipped lead productive lives.

Donations go a long way in helping homeless and at-risk youth when they come through our doors. How can you contribute or get involved in these volunteer efforts?

• Participate: At Covenant House, approximately 30 percent of the young adults that live there are human trafficking victims and are currently homeless. The Outreach Committee hosts regular volunteer days serving lunch or dinner. This opportunity provides a sense of family and community for our youth while sharing a hot meal with community volunteers. Also, our volunteers can host an activity after the meal such as baking cookies, playing games, or teambuilding.
• Donations: Many of our youth arrive with almost nothing and we rely on the generosity of our community to meet their needs. We are currently accepting t-shirts, belts, shoes, new undergarments and socks, specific household items, and other in-kind gifts. Click here for a full list current needs. Toiletries are always needed.
• Make a financial contribution: "The people who donate $25 or $100 are the ones who really move the barometer." Last year, Covenant House Georgia helped more than 1300 homeless, runaway, and trafficked youth. These fragile youth have been touched by your generosity, which helped take them off of the street and continues to open doors which lead to safety, shelter, educational, and vocational opportunities; and eventually, independence and self-sufficiency. Click here to make a financial contribution.

The assistance provided by all of us participating at GMID is priceless to these young adults – THANK YOU MEMBERS. If you need stickers to raise awareness for the national organization, Stop Human Trafficking In Our Backyard, please reach out to Maria Trammel or a committee member. We also encourage you to learn 10 things you can do to fight human trafficking and view some of the video clips to better understand awareness and prevention tools.