A raffle held at The Nail Tech Event of the Smokies raised $500 to support Thistle Farms, a Nashville, Tenn.-based charity dedicated to helping women who have survived prostitution, human trafficking, and addiction. This non-profit organization raises revenue from its social enterprises (Bath & Body Care line, Thistle Stop Cafe, The Studios Workshop, and Shared Trade Global Marketplace), as well as individual gifts and private grants.

The raffle was held at the Smokies networking event, which took place July 9-11 in Gatlinburg, Tenn. Nail tech Jennifer Halfon of Lake Worth, Fla., was the winner of more than $200 worth of Thistle Farms spa products, which were created, packaged, and labeled by the women it serves.

Thistle Farms residents receive two years of housing, food, medical and dental care, therapy, education, and job training free of charge. On average, the women it serves range in age from 20-50, were first sexually abused between 7-11, have been arrested 100 times, and have spent 12 years on the street.

“Human trafficking is so prevalent within our industry, plus both Thistle Farms and The Nail Tech Event of the Smokies are based in Tennessee, so it seemed like a natural fit to elect them as our charity of choice,” says event coordinator Jill Wright.

To learn more, go to www.thistlefarms.org or www.nailtechevent.com/event-charity.html.