Hope Inspire Love

Volunteer Opportunities: Yes

History

Hope Inspire Love was founded and chartered under the name Hope Inspire Love, Inc., on January 30, 2017. It exists to eradicate human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

Hope Inspire Love began through the journey and work of co-founders Amy and Steve Thurston. During a subway trip in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Steve had a futile encounter with a young girl who was potentially being trafficked. During that time, Steve had no education or training on how to spot trafficking. The situation became bleak as the potential trafficker and his victim stepped off the subway while Steve could not do anything to intervene in the situation. Although a tremendous feeling of failure and disappointment had overcome him, a seed to learn more and fight trafficking was planted in his heart that day.

Together, their hope is that one day they would help others with the knowledge, education, and training so that people could be well-informed about this atrocious crime. They hope that through prevention and awareness efforts, others can help stop trafficking before it begins. They hope that one day, through the work, programs, services, and partnerships of Hope Inspire Love, the subway girl will be found and rescued.

Today, Hope Inspire Love fights sex trafficking and sexual exploitation in three strategic ways:

1)    Outreach & Awareness – It strives to shift the culture by amplifying the voice of the voiceless with powerful messages through video, trainings, digital media, and the written word.

2)    Prevention – It educates and creates resources that equip people with information to prevent sex trafficking and modern-day slavery from ever happening in the first place.

3)    Survivor Mentorship – Bringing healing through restorative community by providing trauma informed mentorship services that establish supportive relationships with survivors of sex trafficking.

Steve and Amy Thurston have since been joined by a diverse group of volunteers and team members active in the pursuit of eradicating human trafficking and sexual exploitation. The organization’s home base is in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Mission Statement

We exist to eradicate human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

Vision Statement

Our vision is to see a world where children, women, and men are no longer exploited and sold for sex.