A Note from VP, Cheryl Brasuell
This is predicted to be the biggest travel season in years, with record-breaking numbers of families traveling this summer. Families are busy making plans and creating memories. Kids are free to sleep in, hang out with friends, play, and just be kids. It’s what summer is all about!
One of our advocates added to these travel numbers last week, but her last-minute trip to Florida was for a different reason. *Destinie, one of the girls we serve, had been missing for a few weeks when we found out she was taken to Florida by her trafficker. Late one night, she texted her advocate asking her to help her get back home. It seemed like an impossible mission, but we quickly went to work arranging to get her away from her trafficker safely and booked the flights. Her advocate jumped on a 6:00 am flight the next morning, bound for Florida, where she met this sweet girl at the airport to fly her home. It’s not something we ordinarily do, but this was an extraordinary situation.
Our whole team waited in expectation as we received hour-by-hour text message updates. The minute *Destinie arrived home and saw her mom, she burst into tears. Their reunion was sweet and sobering at the same time.
15-year-old girls should be safe. There should not be a world where kids are exploited. They should be free to enjoy summer in the safety of a trusted community. We have the most amazing opportunity to build relationships with kids and to walk with them as they navigate their teenage years. My favorite thing is that we get to create safe environments where kids feel safe enough to play! Kids play when they feel safe. Their laughter is music to the soul. To be able to watch them grow and learn to trust is a beautiful thing. Our team gets to do that! And you fuel each one of these moments when you give.
This summer, we are asking you to join arms with us and provide the resources we need to give kids a summer filled with fun and tons of new memories. Our goal of $50,000 will assure the 173 kids we are currently serving get the chance to be kids this summer. The truth is, after all they’ve gone through, each one deserves the whole world!
So grateful,
