A Georgetown organization dedicated working against human trafficking is asking for the public’s help this holiday season during a crucial financial matching campaign to help fund their efforts.
“For the first time in almost 9 years since this ministry began, The Key2Free is facing significant financial strain,” the organization wrote on Facebook November 3. “Our donations have declined considerably since early 2020, and continue to do so at a rapid rate. It is understandable. This horrendous pandemic of sex trafficking is hard to “see” as a tangible problem in our world today. It is so much easier to give to something that we can experience with our own eyes, such as a drug rehabilitation, or homeless individuals we see on the streets.”
In the same letter, the organization announced they had made the difficult decision to move their staff to volunteer status for the time being, in order to stretch the dollars they did have to continue providing necessary services to survivors they serve.
Teri Jansen, Co-Founder of TheKey2Free and Assistant Executive Director, and Amy Davis, Co-Founder and Executive Director, both told Hello Georgetown the Georgetown community has been tremendously supportive, even during this tight financial phase the organization finds themselves in, but as many families and businesses struggle themselves right now, they understand why donations have slowed. The organization struggled to decide if they should say anything at all about their situation, but ultimately decided they should let the community know.
“We have amazing people in Georgetown, the community has been nothing but supportive of our ministry and we could not be more thankful for that,” Teri Jansen, Co-Founder and Assistant Executive Director, told Hello Georgetown. “That’s a good portion of why we kind of went back and forth, do we even say anything because there’s so many people that are struggling right now, but we did decide because other organizations, partnering organizations, that do the same thing that we do across the United States, they put it out there and they said, ‘Look, to a degree, we wish we had said something sooner and we’re kind of at a point where it’s too late, and we’re closing our doors,’ and we absolutely don’t want to see that happen to The Key2Free, and the ladies that we have the opportunity to serve, we don’t want that to happen for them. We believe that the ministry that we have is worth saving.”
Jansen also added the team at TheKey2Free chose to go into volunteer status because they believe so much in the mission of the organization they work with.
“They care and believe so much in this ministry, and believe so much in the fight against human trafficking,” Jansen said. “So, for them it’s like, we’re willing to do what we can while we can.”
Following the letter’s publication, the organization received a call from a group of donors who wanted to ensure the organization could meet their $150,000 goal to keep their doors open.
“They gave us a call probably 24 hours after that original letter came out and said, ‘Okay, we’re here to help. We love you guys. We want to see this succeed,'” Amy Davis, Co-Founder and Executive Director, told Hello Georgetown. “So, they came back after a couple days and said, ‘We have a group of donors that we’ve pulled together. We’re willing to match up to $75,000. We want to meet you halfway.'”
The Key2Free now has until midnight on December 31st to raise the other half of the funds through donations, removing a significant roadblock to their financial struggles. As of November 24, the organization had raised just over $48,000.
“We have great donors, we have great volunteers, we could not be more thankful for the support that we have,” Jansen said. ” If [people] want to donate financially, the best way is to just go to our website…for some people that might be sharing and spreading awareness. For some people that might be helping with fundraising, for some people that might be serving as a volunteer, for some people that might be writing a check, whatever that happens to be. We love everyone’s heart that wants to [help].”
The Key2Free is also in the middle of their Giving Tree campaign where community members can sign up to donate Christmas gifts to clients being served by The Key2Free. Sign ups end December 1.
About TheKey2Free
“The Key2Free exists to prevent and end sex trafficking through education in our schools, awareness in our local communities, and aftercare solutions for survivors of trafficking and exploitation,” the organization said. “We accomplish this mission by creating a safe, quality environment, providing access to supportive community based services and educating the public and at-risk youth about trafficking. Together, we devote our lives, skills and resources to bring light to the darkness, and freedom to those who so desperately need it.”
Jansen and Davis told Hello Georgetown the ministry started after they and others took a trip to Greece to learn about how to fight against human trafficking. When they returned, they determined to start their own organization where they lived.
“Six of us jumped in with both feet, ready to go, and formed The Key2Free in April of 2013,” Davis told Hello Georgetown. “We have education awareness, which is part of what we do, and then the other part is aftercare services for survivors of trafficking.”
Part of those services include a restorative house, as well as homes for survivors to live independently in, and other services like case management, counseling, therapy, mentoring, life skills and job readiness classes, and more.
“We do have the education and awareness piece as well, where [we] will go and speak to other organizations, businesses, churches, small groups, really, whoever will listen, where we can get that word out there and get the information out there to the public and to our community.”
Human trafficking is a real problem in the United States and yes, even in Georgetown, Jansen added.
“It actually is very much happening here where we live, where we’re raising our kids, where our kids are going to school, where our kids have activities,” Jansen said.
According to TheKey2Free website, approximately 25% of sex trafficking victims found nationwide are found in Texas and the state is considered a major destination and transit state for human sex trafficking.
“When people hear about it, they can’t help but want to do something about it,” Jansen said. “They want to share what they’ve learned, and that is the way to fight it through prevention.”
To learn more about TheKey2Free, their mission, how you can help them in the fight against human trafficking, visit their website or their Facebook page.
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