 Hello friends and volunteers! We are well past due to give an update on what's been happening at MRC. We've had an exciting few months and we are gearing up for our busiest time of year with the holidays approaching. Here's a look at what is going on at My Refuge City lately...
New Beginnings We've seen some beautiful new beginnings for the women we serve lately. While we can't share specifics, we do want to keep our supporters aware of some of the incredible ways God is moving as you pray. One trafficking victim was recently able to start over with new housing, a full-time job, and a new church family to help her. Another treasure started college recently and is full of dreams to become a teacher. Another girl is in nursing school, and she is excited to spend her future as a caretaker for hurting people. Three of our girls are working hard in recovery programs and rehabs, fighting for their new beginnings outside of the life, sober and free. Three more treasures are expecting babies in early 2018 and we are pumped to start "baby shower season" to make sure these new mamas are equipped to care for their little ones well. Another young lady already welcomed her baby and we've had a lot fun shopping for diapers, wipes, and all the necessities that he needs. With the devastating hurricanes in recent months, we've also seen an influx of women from out of state. One trafficking victim was literally stranded on the side of the road when we met her. God intervened on her behalf and one of our volunteers saw her and realized something wasn't right. We were able to transport her to safety. New Partnerships We are so excited to partner with likeminded organizations in North Carolina that are fighting human trafficking and working hard to help victims. Last month, our President and Executive Director traveled to Raleigh to participate in a discussion panel with Project No Rest. This is an incredible organization that is making huge strides to bring awareness to trafficking and help first responders and aftercare organizations network together to make a greater impact. You can check them out online here! In September, we also participated in the Recovery Rally at the Hickory Soup Kitchen. Recognizing that addiction goes hand-in-hand with sexual exploitation, we have been thrilled to see our community come together in support of those living in recovery. There are numerous service providers in our area that are learning more about human trafficking and learning how to spot the warning signs. Our staff and board of directors has also been busy visiting area churches and sharing about this important issue. What a gift it has been to visit so many local churches in recent weeks and create new partnerships to help people in need here in our own community. New Volunteers As we rapidly approach the one-year mark for when we officially formed our organization, it's becoming apparent that we need more help! We've welcomed several new volunteers to our team over the past few months. Our strip club outreach continues to be a cornerstone of this ministry and we couldn't do it without the ladies who selflessly give of their time each week to go take food, treat bags, and friendly smiles to the girls. We also have one particular superstar (Shout out to Meredith!) who is helping us stay in contact with our girls each week and keeping our hotline up and running. We've also welcomed a few new "mentors" who are providing ongoing support and prayer to women we serve AFTER the crisis. New Office and Classroom Space One of the most exciting recent changes is our collaboration with Safe Harbor Rescue Mission. We've found this ministry to be our true sister organization in every way as they share the same vision and love for women and children in crisis. Through their New Day Program, we are finding new ways to help the women we serve. Just a few weeks ago, Safe Harbor offered us the use of some office space, which was a major answer to prayer. We now have an office and classroom space that we can use as needed! New Opportunities to Serve As the holidays approach, we need your help! We need individuals, families, small groups, and churches that can adopt a family for Christmas! We will start the process of collecting needs and assigning sponsor families in November so please contact us if you are interested in helping with this event. Stay tuned for more details! Here is a look at some of the upcoming events: November 4 at 10 AM - New Volunteer Info Meeting and Training November 14 at 6:30 PM - New Pathways the Freedom class begins November 18 at 7:00 PM - Thanksgiving Outreach December 10 at 2-4 PM - Gift Collection Day December 6 at 6:30 PM - Grace Covenant Church Sunday, December 17 at 5 PM - MRC Christmas Party Current Needs:
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