August 18, 2020
So, a lot of attention has been shining on human trafficking lately, specifically the sex trafficking of children, and since that is something that I am very passionate about fighting, I thought I’d do a series of blog posts about organizations that I partner with here in my home state of Nebraska. The first one I want to share with you is Stand Fast IN FREEDOM. This amazing group has been working tirelessly for the past four years or so to plan, organize, and fundraise in an effort to purchase or build a shelter specifically for female survivors of sex trafficking from ages 12-19. Did you know that the average age for a person to trafficked for the first time is 13-14? And unfortunately, in many states, because the goal is to have them in a family setting, they are only allowed to stay in a shelter with therapy for a few months at a time. So, once they are back in the foster system or back in their home the trafficking starts again. It can become a cyclical pattern until the child decides to really seek help, which is where Stand Fast IN FREEDOM is trying to make a difference. Not only are they working to set up a facility to house these young ladies for a time being, and to provide both physical and mental/emotional care, they are also focusing on having great support and mentorship both while the survivors are at the facility and beyond. The SFIF goal is to maintain contact with the girls after they leave the facility to provide continuous love and commitment to their wellbeing, which is often missing from the lives of those who are victims of trafficking.
On September 19, 2020, Stand Fast IN FREEDOM is hosting their 2nd Annual Freedom Run to continue raising funds for this shelter. It is currently being offered as both in person and as a virtual option, however, if the COVID-19 risk increases to an unsafe level, it will be converted to a complete virtual run. Either way, no matter where YOU live, If you feel compelled to support this worthy cause, feel free to check it out! And, if you’re not a runner, there’s a donation option too 😉.
**Disclaimer: I did not receive any compensation for this blog post, I am simply sharing information on Human Trafficking organizations in my state that I support.**
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