Maria was a young girl from the Eastside. A teenager in a good school, she wanted to feel loved. She started hanging out with a charming older guy who seemed like a friend. He showered her with attention. Before long, she trusted him. She listened to him. She ran away with him. And she became one of the thousands sold for sex on any given night in King County. She found herself in a world where the average life expectancy is seven years. Death comes from overdose, suicide, murder, or disease. It's a reality that's hard to grasp, especially when it hits closer to home than many would like to believe.

 

Thankfully, Maria’s story is one that doesn't end in despair. With the help of our outreach team, she found Real Escape from the Sex Trade (REST) and came to our shelter. REST exists to expand pathways to freedom, safety, and hope in order to end sex trafficking. We work with over 600 survivors like Maria every year. We provide resources for their safety, healing, and independence.

 

With REST by her side, Maria’s journey is now one of healing and empowerment. She is pursuing her education, determined to build a future bright with promise—a living testament to the transformative power of people who care.

 

But REST's mission extends beyond helping individuals. REST is fostering a community where survivors are heard and able to collaborate with law enforcement and government to dismantle systems of harm. This is just one of the many stories that we see every year.

 

If her story moves you, know that there's a way you can help. We cannot do this alone! Visit REST's website, iwantrest.com, to discover how you can be part of a movement towards freedom, safety, and hope for every survivor of sex trafficking in King County. Your support will change lives and create a safer community for you and your loved ones.