May Newsletter

Dear Friends,

It is our hope that through our monthly newsletters you learn more, not just about Reclaiming Hope, but also about trafficking in general. As the banner above says, “Let’s Grow Together!”

We require that all of our staff go through continued education each year, so that we keep learning about those we serve, and how we can best serve them. Allison, the Reclaiming Hope Office Manager, recently joined an online training course on the deadly link between sex trafficking and substance abuse. What she learned opened her eyes, and ours, to the ways in which traffickers exploit people with substance use disorders (from here forward, we’ll use the acronym SUD). Here are some of her notes:

     People with knowledge of a person with SUD can use that knowledge as leverage: “Do this illegal act for me, or I’ll report you to the police” (or if the person is a parent, “I’ll report you to Child Protective Services”). Or the trafficker might ask for an illegal act in exchange for a dose of the person’s preferred addictive drug, the drug she or he uses to dull the pain of their physical and emotional abuse.

     The survivors that Reclaiming Hope has interviewed often tell a story about how drugs and/or alcohol give traffickers an opening for exploitation. Traffickers prey on individuals leaving detox centers. They attend 12-step meetings, waiting to find the person easiest to exploit.

     Drug facilitated human trafficking is made of threats, intimidation, coercion, isolation, sexual, physical, emotional, and financial abuse which are inherently at the core of human trafficking.  

     How do we fight back against the traffickers’ exploitation of SUD? De-stigmatize it. A survivor will come out with battle scars, a network of safe support should celebrate every victory over SUD, no matter how big or small. With prayer and God’s guidance, the person with SUD can experience resilience where there was once vulnerability.

Reclaiming Hope offers just such a support network through our Survivor Care program. One of our Mentees just today told me again how important our support has been in her staying sober and drug free.

One of our newest Board members, Dr. Carrie Yeager, was our first Mentor Program Director and a founding Board member. Working in that capacity showed Dr. Yeager how important trauma-informed care is which is why she went back to school to become a Clinical Psychologist. Dr. Yeager is one of those who help us train all of our Mentors in trauma-informed care.

Pauline Nelson, one of our Lead Volunteers, was selected by Vanguard Skin Specialists as their Extraordinary Woman of 2025!

Pauline has consistently gone above and beyond in responding to the needs of our Hope Bag program.  If she is available, she will be sure to come and help with any tasks that are needed.  She leads other volunteers and helps keep our program organized and running smoothly.  She has used her creativity to help generate ideas to improve our processes.  She is detail oriented and makes sure that each item that a survivor receives is in good condition and packed with care. 

Pauline has been a volunteer with Reclaiming Hope for over 3 years. In that time, her commitment to our work and ministry with survivors of sex trafficking has grown to the point that we would have a hard time functioning without her! In 2024 Pauline volunteered over 600 hours with Reclaiming Hope.

She is, truly, an Extraordinary Woman! We honestly don’t know anyone more deserving of this recognition – and the pampering that comes with this recognition. She will receive an hour of pampering at clara (part of Vanguard), a customized skin care regimen, and $1,000 will be donated to Reclaiming Hope on her behalf.

Congratulations, Pauline! We’re so grateful for you.