A Place to Come Back To: A Survivor’s Thanksgiving Journey to Safety
Holidays can be lonely under the best of circumstances. For survivors of trauma, abuse, or exploitation, this season can stir deep fear, painful memories, and a sense of isolation that makes everything harder.
Just before Thanksgiving, a mother and her young daughter reached out to Rescue America. She had already taken brave steps toward freedom, escaping a dangerous trafficking situation connected to powerful criminal networks. Though she had been moved into temporary safety, fear lingered — fear of being found, fear of instability, fear of what might come next.
Still, she kept reaching out.
That persistence tells an important story.
Many survivors’ journeys are not linear. Exiting exploitation often happens in stages. There are setbacks, uncertainties, and moments when survivors must reassess what safety truly looks like for them and their children. What we see, again and again, is that even when survivors don’t fully exit the first time they call, many return.
They return because they know this is a safe place.
They know they will be believed. They know someone will answer. They know they will be met with care, prayer, truth, and love — not judgment.
As Thanksgiving approached, new challenges emerged. The safe place where this mother and daughter were staying unexpectedly closed. Shelters were full. Offices were shutting down for the holiday. The world seemed to pause — while their need did not.
And yet, leaving them without support was not an option.
Though temporary hotel stays are usually limited, this moment called for flexibility and compassion. With no immediate placement available and the holiday days ahead, our team leaned into creativity, prayer, and community.
What unfolded next was something we could never have orchestrated on our own.
Within hours, a church stepped forward. Meals were coordinated for the entire Thanksgiving week. Each day, someone showed up — bringing food, encouragement, and the simple but powerful message: You are not forgotten.
Beyond meals, this family received practical care. They were given access to essential items they had left behind — clothing, baby supplies, toys, and necessities that restored a sense of dignity and normalcy during a deeply uncertain time.
It wasn’t just a provision. It was a presence.
At one point, our team was able to connect with the mother and daughter face-to-face through a video call. We prayed over them, spoke words of encouragement, and witnessed the humanity behind the hotline call. What can sometimes feel like distant, logistical work suddenly became very real, very personal, and very sacred.
This moment stripped away any illusion that this work is just a job.
It reminded us that these are real people with real fears, real courage, and real hope. It reminded us that love looks like showing up when schedules are full, offices are closed, and it would be easier to say, We’ll deal with this after the holiday.
After Thanksgiving, the next door opened.
A longer-term placement was ready to receive them. Transportation was arranged. The mother and daughter arrived safely, stepping into the next chapter of healing and stability.
Looking back, what once felt like a delay became an unexpected gift — a season where this family experienced care in a uniquely tangible way. A reminder that even when plans fall apart, provision can still arrive right on time.
This is the heart of our work.
We are here for the first call — and the second, and the third. We are here when placements change, when doors close, and when holidays make everything harder. We are here for survivors who return because they know they will be met with compassion and truth.
There is always a place to come back to.
If you or someone you know have been sexually exploited and want out of the life, please call Rescue America’s 24/7 Rescue hotline number at 833.599.FREE.
To report a trafficking tip, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888.373.7888.
Save these numbers on your phone for later reference!
