The impact of covid-19 on restorations and survivors
Without the ability to meet in person, all of our support for and engagement with survivors has moved online. Although this has been a transition, it has given us opportunities to explore different ways to connect such as our online book club.
Despite the pandemic, renovations on our home have been safely moving forward. We have seen amazing progress on our home in the last few months!
When our team first started preparing for the realities of COVID-19, our Executive Director wrote this blog post. We still continue to pray that peace and healing overcome anxiety and fear in our world and in our community.
As COVID-19 continues to evolve, the survivors we support have been reflecting on their experiences throughout this pandemic. One survivor wrote a 3 part series on our blog titled “A Few Things I Am Learning About Myself, Community, and the World During COVID-19” that details her experiences throughout this time. You can access the articles through our blog or through the links below.
The Embracing Community Connection Fund
Designated to help survivors through covid-19.
With input we’ve collected directly from survivors, we continue to hear what is needed most. The needs are similar to those we are all facing, but compounded because of social isolation, histories of complex traumas, and pre-existing financial insecurities.
We established the “Embracing Community Connection Fund” to respond to specific needs survivors have during COVID-19. Please consider giving a special gift that will meet the unique needs and challenges survivors of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation are facing during this pandemic.
IMPACT
Thanks to generous donations we have:
Arranged a movie night for and sent out food gift certificates to survivors
Purchased items to help with isolation and boredom including a robotic activity, garden planting activity, etc.
Addressed mental health needs like coordinating counselling sessions and have purchased a book on trauma for a survivor
Arranged an online games night
Launched a book club and arranged for all participating survivors to receive copies of the books we are reading
Provided one-on-one online support and encouragement for survivors through avenues like texting, group chats, and video calling
Provided care care packages with special treats to make reading for book club all that much more enjoyable
