By Colleen Volheim, category research and analysis manager, for the Tradition of Giving blog series
A few years ago, one of my coworkers brought to my attention a problem I never gave much thought to – the sex trafficking of children and teens. I found out that the average age of a child first used in prostitution is 11-14! Shockingly, 66-90% of adult sex workers were victims of child trafficking and/or abuse. Little did I realize this is happening in every community, including mine, right under our noses.
That’s why I decided to get involved with the Redeem & Restore Center, a non-profit charity founded in 2013 that supports women and girls escaping from domestic sexual exploitation or trafficking. Their primary focus is to help fill an enormous need for housing with services for women victims (18+). There are at least 300,000 U.S. victims trapped in this industry and approximately 52 homes available for all victims.
Once again in 2018, I organized a Hamacher team for Redeem & Restore Center’s annual Wisconsin Lantern Walk, to raise funds for their cause. During 2016 and 2017, we had a great turnout for our team, however in 2018, conflicting schedules meant that only a couple of us could attend. That didn’t stop us from raising funds though! My co-workers were happy to step up, and we were able to donate nearly $300 to Redeem & Restore Center in 2018.
In my view, I feel like you should always give back to others in some way. When you become aware of a need and you can accommodate it, you get a good feeling about helping your community. It’s nice that my personal philosophy about giving aligns so well with HRG’s tradition of giving. I hope my post has inspired you to think of ways you can organize your coworkers to give back to your community!