Happy New Year from our team at Alabaster Jar Project and our survivor sisters at Grace House! In spite of the Coronavirus Pandemic, we have accomplished so much this year. We especially want to thank YOU for being a part of our mission to restore, rehabilitate, and empower survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. What you do means so much to us, so we are happy to share how your contributions and support have helped survivors this year.
We started off the year very optimistic. Because of a generous grant donation from The San Diego Foundation, we were able to hire on a few new survivors to our staff. Seasoned survivor leaders have taken many positions in our small organization, including grant writing, group therapy facilitation, house managers, and social media management. When you support Alabaster Jar Project, you are not only supporting the survivors at Grace House; you are also supporting survivor leadership and employment.
By late March, we had made a lot of changes to keep the survivors we serve safe from Coronavirus. Our Drop-In Resource Center closed for drop in. Instead, we made deliveries to survivors in need. These deliveries included toiletries, nonperishable food, toilet paper, and clothing if needed. At Grace House, we reserved one room for potential new residents to quarantine in for two weeks before moving into the resident bedrooms. Survivor Support Group, and the majority of group classes taken by GH Residents, moved online to Zoom-style video calling. The survivor residents, and other survivors whom we serve, adapted to all of this with ease, leading us all to believe that we can learn a thing or two from survivors of trafficking.
This May, we an unfortunate loss in our survivor community. A survivor who had been attending support group for years sadly lost her battle with addiction. This will forever change our community, as she was loved by all of us. We miss her so much, and because of this loss, we have committed to promoting unity for our survivor sisters, in every way possible with the ramifications of Covid-19.
In June, with several accounts of POC being killed in altercations with law enforcement that were covered in the media and the celebration of Juneteenth, our staff solemnly reflected on the struggles that survivors of color, in particular, face when it comes to getting out of the horrendous cycle of trafficking and exploitation.
In late June through early July, we had two new residents move into Grace House, so thank you for your prayers for them, as they have both continued their program and are moving through their “phases” diligently. We also celebrated the High School Graduation of the GH Resident who has been with us the longest. Since she was doing school online and wouldn’t get a formal graduation ceremony, we threw an impromptu ceremony and party for her at Grace House. We are so proud of her!
Our Annual Golf Tournament was postponed to this August. Even with all the changes due to Coronavirus, we had a very successful turnout. We raised a net total of over $30,000! Thank you to all who attended, and to those of you who didn’t attend in person but participated in the fundraiser virtually.
By September, three of the GH Residents were enrolled in school, all on virtual platforms. We also celebrated one resident finally getting off of probation, which is a huge deal for her, especially when it comes to her independence. Later that month, one resident began family counseling to repair her relationship with her children.
October marked our Annual Fall Fundraiser. This year, we held our first virtual fundraiser with the help of Pastor Nate Alcorn, Professor Jamie Gates, musical guest Jackie Foster, NBC7’s Monica Dean, and special appearances by our survivor staff members. We raised over $40,000! Thank you so much to all who participated.
This Fall also marked the third anniversary of when our first GH Graduate moved in to her very first apartment on her own. Watching her live a full life beyond exploitation is such a joy to us and an inspiration to the survivors currently residing at Grace House. Your support truly facilitates long-lasting independence for survivors.
For Christmas, volunteers, supporters, and donors really came through for the survivors we serve. A local women's group donated stockings for the women we serve, while many other local supporters volunteered to put together Christmas gifts and packages for them. It is so heartwarming to see how our community can come together for those in our community that need it the most.
We have lots of hope for this next year, and a lot to look forward to. Because of you, we could keep our Grace House doors open even in the middle of the pandemic, and can continue to serve survivors of trafficking next year. Thank you for all you do for us! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
In Gratitude, Susan Johnson, Director, and our team at Alabaster Jar Project.