Human Trafficking is a difficult subject to talk about, and is easy to write off as an issue primarily affecting impoverished communities in other countries. However, this modern form of slavery exists unseen right here in our own neighborhoods.

In 2023, around 17,000 survivors of human trafficking were identified in the U.S. by the National Human Trafficking Hotline. 435 of those were here in Missouri and Kansas. Though these are the reported numbers, it is estimated that the issue is even more pervasive. 

Denise Lester is Founder and Executive Director of Rended Heart, an agency partner of Harvesters that exists to help survivors of trafficking find the healing and restoration they need. She and her husband Roger moved to the Kansas City area in 2007 without fully realizing why. They began volunteering with an anti-trafficking organization locally in 2009, and that is when Denise felt the call to dedicate her life to that cause.

Denise and other volunteers started doing their own outreach, going into areas known to be hotspots for trafficking and helping how they could, getting women connected with services and sometimes even welcoming them into their homes for a time. It was then that she realized that there is a significant gap in services available to these survivors when they take the courageous steps to flee their situations.

Typically, long-term restoration/reintegration programs require 30 days of sobriety to enter and have a strict set of criteria to meet during their stay. Those coming out of trafficking or exploitation are dealing with significant trauma symptoms, may be struggling with coming off of substances, and have a host of other mental and situational challenges that can make success in such an environment difficult. 

Denise officially founded Rended Heart in 2017 to address these issues. Their mission is to provide immediate short-term accommodations, resources, and services for the purpose of preparing sexually exploited individuals for entry into a long-term restoration or reintegration program. The first year, they were able to help 9 survivors. Now, they consistently serve more than 90 a year. 

In their 30-day program, they help identify a restoration and reintegration program that would be best for each survivor and help them complete their admission process, assist them with securing documents such as ID, birth certificates and social security cards, help with job searches, court appearances, transportation and more. Denise says that the key to their program is about building meaningful relationships and meeting them where they are without strings attached.

“They get to know us and we get to know them,” she says. “We’re providing answers for them. And they experience what they typically will experience in a long-term program in their first 30 days, so they’re probably going to do the same thing they’ve done here. Again, when they move to the next place, there’s no phone. There’s no internet access. You don’t go anywhere by yourself. You’re doing your therapy and your case management stuff. And so really, if they make it through here, the success for them to get through the long-term program is much higher. That’s what we’ve seen.”

In addition to their 30-day program, Rended Heart offers job skills training courses, life skills courses, and even has a boutique where the women in the program can pick out clothing. They take a holistic approach to seeing these survivors make steps toward healing and truly go above and beyond for each individual in their programs.

Harvesters currently helps Rended Heart’s efforts by providing food and BackSnacks similar to those we use for use in our partner schools for use both in-office and when they do outreach. Denise is amazing at striking up compassionate conversations with women who are in difficult situations, and food is an incredible tool to both provide an immediate need and plant the seeds for further assistance.

“I always keep a box in my car,” she says. “Even if I don’t get to talk to them much, I can put a little card inside the bags, and they are still getting our information, at least. They know that we’re out there.”

For anyone who wants to learn more about the human trafficking situation in our community and how to identify the signs, Rended Heart routinely offers trainings. There are also plenty of ways to volunteer and be a bigger part of the solution. Those interested can visit rendedheart.org to find out more.

Also, if you or someone you know is currently unsafe and in need of assistance, please call or text the Rended Heart team at 816-343-4558. 

Help is available, and you will be met with compassion and without judgment.