Dear John,

No one knew I’d been trafficked — including me. 

It took me a year and a half to realize I’d experienced labor trafficking. During that time, I couldn’t communicate what I’d gone through or what I needed. Even well-meaning family, friends, police officers, and service providers couldn’t recognize it and weren’t able to help me. 

Things finally changed when I connected with a nonprofit offering help for trafficking survivors. They understood my experience, gave me the language I was missing to describe what happened, and walked with me every step of the way until I got the care I needed. 

I was fortunate to find help. But not every survivor finds that support. Too many people search online, reach out to an organization, and wait…only to get no response or be told to try somewhere else. And with more programs cutting services or even closing their doors, the cracks are growing in the support system that human trafficking survivors rely on. 

Polaris is working to close those gaps. For over 20 years, they have worked to make sure survivors can connect with safe housing, legal aid, and other trusted partners across the country.

Will you help strengthen this constellation of support for survivors? 

When you give by Thanksgiving Day, your gift will be matched dollar for dollar — going twice as far in helping survivors find the resources they need to keep moving forward. ​​

Support from multiple organizations helped me navigate a long and difficult process to pursue credit relief through the Debt Bondage Repair Act (DBRA). A survivor-focused nonprofit helped me call the National Human Trafficking Hotline, who connected me to a local agency to certify me as a trafficking victim eligible for DBRA relief. After a long and difficult process, my credit has finally rebounded. 

It felt like all the stars had to align for me to make progress. My experience is just one example of how complicated financial and legal systems can be — especially for survivors trying to rebuild their lives.

Will you help align the stars for survivors navigating these systems — and working to change them? ​​​​

Read about my journey to freedom >>
Double your impact for survivors >>​​​​

Your gift helps victims and survivors access the services they need and supports efforts to fix the systems meant to protect them. Help survivors move forward — and join us in transforming systems to work better for everyone.

Thank you!​