Dear Friends,

With the school year launching, many of us find new rhythms in life. Fall might mean classes, sports, or getting back to regular activities. Sometimes we get over committed and feel as though our schedules are controlling us.

Being and feeling in control is a life skill – especially for those who have been controlled by others, like traffickers. Some of the Survivors we walk with have been controlled by others all of their lives. Sometimes by a parent who trafficked them. Or a boyfriend… by someone they assumed they could trust, but who then took advantage of them.

They might have been told when they could eat and sleep. Who they could talk to, and what they could say. What they could wear. They most likely weren’t allowed to control money on their own.

These are choices that most of us have learned to make for ourselves in the course of life. Taking control of our lives and learning to say “no” to good things in order to focus on other “better” things is a learned process, not something that comes to any of us naturally.

We’re launching a Job Readiness program to help our Mentees learn how to make these choices on their own. How to balance the pressure of healing and working. How to handle conflict in the workplace.

This fall as you work through which activities to say “yes” to, and which to say “no” to, allow that experience to guide you in remembering and praying for those who need to learn that skill.

We’re grateful for those of you who have said “yes” to serving with us – as Mentors, as Volunteers in any capacity, and as Donors.

  • If you’ve been volunteering with us, please join us August 11 to celebrate you with a picnic at the office. (The link is below to sign up TODAY.)
  • We’re seeking sponsors for our October 11 annual fund-raising dinner. (Please connect with me if you’re curious to know more!)
  • And: you can purchase your tickets now for the dinner! (See link below)

We invite you to join the Human Trafficking Task Force of Southern Colorado, which meets in our office (615 Wooten Road) the 2nd Tuesday each month, 5:45-7:15 pm!

We are grateful for you.

Blessings,
Sues Hess, Exec. Dir., and the RHope Team

RSVP Here

What Can I Do?

Attend Our Fundraising Dinner

Tickets for our annual fundraising dinner are available by clicking the link below, finding them on our website, or by calling our office at 719/425-9405. Individual tickets are $50 each (open seating). If you would like a table and reserved seating, a table of 8 is $500. Our fundraising dinner is October 11th, 2024 at 6 pm and is being held at the COS City Hub - 4304 Austin Bluffs Pkwy Please join us to see how we walk with survivors.
Buy Tickets

Prayer

Thank you for being our prayer warriors! Please join us in praying for through our monthly prayer calendars!
August Prayer Calendar

Hope Bag Needs

We are so happy to have provided over 800 Hope Bags for the sake of survivors. That’s over 800 blankets, 800 stuffed animals, etc. Thank you, we could not provide these bags without your support (both with the tangible donations and the volunteer time). We still have empty shelves and need to refill them to send out more bags. If you are interested in seeing our Amazon Wishlist please click the link provided.
Amazon Hope Bag Wish List

Become a Mentor

We have a Mentor Training coming up on August 24! There’s a process to go through before attending, so if you would like to learn more about being a mentor and to fill out an application click the button below. Get started today!
More Info

Thank you to the groups who volunteered or supported Reclaiming Hope in July:

Broadmoor Rotary Club
Next Step Ministries
Cathedral Rock Church
Heart of Bethel Lutheran Church
Monument Hill Youth Group
Sunrise Walkers
The Vine Youth Group
Wolfforth Youth Group

Thank you to this youth group for volunteering their time at Reclaiming Hope! They’re from Missouri – Thrivent Financial gave them an Action Team grant to help to pay their way here!

Thank you to Greis Family Charity and Peak City Church, and other donors who helped provide a car to a survivor! What a practical, life-changing gift this is.

Human Trafficking in the News

KOSA PASSED the Senate! Keep the momentum going in the House: Tell your Representatives to #PASS KOSA… KOSA is the first meaningful online child protection bill Congress has considered in nearly 25 years! Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Chair of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, and your Representatives need to hear that kids and families can’t wait. Please tell them to cosponsor the Kids Online Safety act by clicking the link in the header and taking action!

HSI Houston, Houston PD Investigation Results in 30-Plus Year Sentence for Trafficker of Teenage Girls… Opoku spent years exploiting and victimizing little girls and other vulnerable members of our community,” said Hamdani. “Opoku will now spend the next 30+ years away from our community, unable to continue his exploitation and victimization of our daughters and neighbors.

42 people arrested during human trafficking operation in Scottsdale… A proactive operation to arrest people accused of being sex buyers, child predators, and individuals involved with sex trade and trafficking.

She took on world’s largest porn site for profiting off child abuse. She’s winning…. Zero tolerance for those who illegally profit from sex trafficking and child rape – and that’s what she found on Pornhub.

If you would like to host a donation drive to help Reclaiming Hope prepare for the busier summer season for the Hope Bag Program, please reach out to info@reclaiming-hope.org or call 719/425- 9405 Tues – Fri : 10am – 4pm.