July 30 is recognized as World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, a day dedicated to raising awareness about human trafficking and recognizing the experiences of victims and survivors. Human trafficking continues to impact people around the world and can take many forms, including forced labor, sexual exploitation, and other types of exploitation. Human trafficking often involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to exploit individuals for the benefit of others. Traffickers may target...

When someone arrives at Bethesda House, one of the first things we want them to feel is that they are safe, welcomed, and cared for. Before healing can truly begin, basic needs have to be met. Sometimes, the first steps toward a new beginning start with something as simple as a warm shower, a fresh change of clothes, or a meal after a difficult journey. From the moment a survivor enters our program, we provide the essentials they need — personal care items, food and water, clean clothing,...

This month, survivors at Bethesda House are continuing their work toward stability and independence through consistent, skill-building opportunities. One of these opportunities consists of our survivor-made items we sell through Purple Lotus. While the public only sees the finished items, the deeper impact is found in the process. Through making these items, survivors are building confidence in their ability to complete tasks, and we are seeing a growing sense of pride in their work. One of...