Wreath drive to end human trafficking nears $100K mark

Nov. 17, 2021 | Lauren LeBel
llebel@thereminder.com

Mary Ann Dietschler has been selling wreaths for seven years to raise funds to fight human trafficking.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo

AGAWAM – Seven years after founding Wreaths with a Reason, Agawam resident Mary Ann Dietschler will likely surpass $100,000 donated to organizations that fight human trafficking after her wreath and decor sale this weekend.

Dietschler said her interest in this cause started with a book she read in 2012 about the 19th century Underground Railroad. She said reading about slavery in the United States forced her to think deeply about what she would have done during that time.

A few years later, Dietschler said a friend recommended another book about slavery – the modern-day practice of sex slavery. Dietschler said she quickly felt a moral obligation to help eradicate this crime and help its victims.

For some time, she sent money to Operation Underground Railroad, a worldwide organization that rescues children from human trafficking. One day, she made a wreath for her front door. After stepping back and taking in her unique creation, Dietschler decided she was going to make and sell one wreath a month, and send the proceeds to this organization.

“In May 2014, I started,” said Dietschler. “In June and July, I only made one or two wreaths.”

She found customers through the Agawam Senior Center, where she teaches yoga. Additionally, she created a Facebook page to highlight her wreaths.

As the word got out and her business began to expand, Dietschler was contacted by several people wishing to offer their services. Currently, she has seven volunteers, including a doctor, a pharmacist, and a few retired grandmothers.

“Everybody has a different scope with influence,” allowing for more people to come in and a variety of creations to be made, said Dietschler.

“At first I had a little craft room, but we started to grow,” she said. For a while, she was able to make her wreaths with items she had on hand, though the increased volume made it necessary to start buying supplies.

“I had to use some money I made to buy some supplies,” said Dietschler. “The only money taken [has been] to buy supplies. Nobody has ever made a dime, including myself.”

The sales now support a few organizations. Dietschler said her current focus is an organization called Amirah, which operates two safe houses for trafficked individuals – one in Connecticut and one in Massachusetts. Amirah also runs outreach programs for victims of sex trafficking who have “come out of that lifestyle,” said Dietschler.

“I [first] sent $50,000 to Operation Underground Railroad. After I reached $50,000, I wanted to do something close to home,” said Dietschler.

She said the money that Wreaths with a Reason has donated to Amirah has been used to renovate bedrooms and bathrooms at its safe houses. The organization also donates to The Underground, a Connecticut-based anti-trafficking advocacy group.

Dietschler said her team “works tirelessly” to craft wreaths year-round, and “nobody ever complains.”

She added that some of her volunteers have given up spaces in their homes, dedicating a room solely to these projects.

Wreaths with a Reason now offers more than just Christmas wreaths, selling other door decorations, vases, centerpieces and more, pairing with any season.

Every year, Dietschler hosts three events – in the spring, fall, and around Christmas time. The final “big event” of this year, Dietschler said, will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 20 at her home, at 281 Elm St., Agawam. She said that her husband created shelves in their garage where she will hang the wreaths available for sale, illuminated by lights.

In addition to the wreaths and crafts, Dietschler said two of her granddaughters will be selling some goodies. One has a business known as “Collie’s K-9 Cookies.” Dietschler said 10 percent of the dog treat sale’s proceeds will go towards Operation Underground Railroad. Alongside her, Dietschler’s granddaughter Sophia will be selling “sweet treats” for human indulgence.

During the most recent event in September, Dietschler sold $4,000 worth of fall decor. That brought the grand total she has raised for the anti-trafficking organizations in the past seven years to $98,089.

In past years, Dietschler said the turnout to the Christmas season event has been great.

“People have been so incredibly supportive,” she said. She described the customer experience by saying, “You buy a beautiful wreath that you won’t see anywhere else, [and] you save women and children from sex slavery. It’s a win-win.”

Dietschler believes that the prices of her wreaths are “reasonable” – ranging from $50 up to $95. She said that most of her pieces sell between $65 to $85, however, she recently sold a snow shovel for only $10.

Customers can also view Wreaths with a Reason’s latest creations and place an order at wreathswithareason.com.

Items may be purchased online with a credit card or PayPal. Customers can pick up their orders at Dietschler’s home, or have them delivered anywhere in Greater Springfield for a $10 charge.

As Wreaths with a Reason is now an official nonprofit, Dietschler said that people often make a cash donation to the cause.

With $100,000 on the horizon, Dietschler said that at 77 years old, she never would have expected to be doing this. She said she is proud of her accomplishments and looks forward to the continued expansion of her business and assisting victims of human sex trafficking.

Share this: