(COLORADO SPRINGS) — FOX21 News is teaming up with Reclaiming Hope, a local nonprofit, to host a donation drive for survivors of sex trafficking on Friday, Jan. 31.
The FOX21 News Morning Crew met with Reclaiming Hope’s executive director, Sue Hess, to discuss more about how each donation helps a victim of sex trafficking, and how Reclaiming Hope helps survivors.
“Many people don’t want to admit that there is trafficking today, but more people are trafficked today than ever in history,” said Sue Hess. “In our own community, we have people in almost every neighborhood being trafficked.”
Reclaiming Hope works at a local level, where they help survivors re-integrate. Nationally, Reclaiming Hope has a special bag program, that equips law enforcement with bags for victims when they are performing any sting operations.
Hess said every bag is filled with brand-new items for survivors, some items inside of it include a blanket, stuffed animals, hand sanitizers, clothes, and more. Bags are made in different sizes, with the most popular size being the adult ones.
“We give them brand-new clothes to make them feel like ‘I can even hide with that hoodie, I am not on display any longer,'” said Hess.
Last year, Hess said they had sent more than 1,500 hope bags. Some of the most needed items include:
The drive will take place at FOX21 News located at 650 Wooten Road. Volunteers from Reclaiming Hope will be collecting donations at the front entrance of FOX21 as people drive through.
