I don’t support many causes and the ones I do think are worth supporting are truly universal. Emily Fitchpatrick’s is one of those causes. I met Emily online shortly after she left Billy Graham’s ministry to start her own - rescuing children from the sex trade all over the world. She was looking for a freelance graphics person. I was looking for work. And we found each other on elance.com. I learned a lot from Emily. It was humbling and sobering and shocking.

I learned that the average age of a prostitute in this country is 12 years old. The girls and boys involved in the sex trade as prostitutes or in pornography are 12-14 years old. If you have a daughter or son for that matter, stop reading now and think about them. Can you imagine them being sold into slavery and forced to be prostitutes for dozens of men - often that many in an evening?

What does this have to do with homelessness? The fact is, many of these children run away from home and are homeless when they enter the sex trades. They have no other way to earn money to eat, and can’t find a place to live. Some have parent problems. Some are abused. Some are kidnapped. They share a common story - a lack of love, no hope and a dependence on a horrific life style if they want to live.

The sexual exploitation of children has rocketed out of control thanks to the internet, and to places like Craigslist.org. who, according to the New York Times, rake in more than $26 million dollars a year in sex ad revenue.

I don’t think most people can imagine, or want to try - to think about what it’s like to be a child in that sort of situation. But Emily has dared to. She started Hope House in North Carolina to house, shelter, protect and teach victims of sex slavery and prostitution how to break free, empower themselves and learn to love who they are. People have stepped forward to help -funding her operation and volunteering to work with the girls -all of whom are home-schooled at the facility. Part of healing from child-hood sexual abuse is learning to play again. And Emily does that. But she needs help. She’s asking for the following items or donations of any size to help her purchase them for the house. She didn’t ask me to post this, but I am. You can read about the house, the program and Emily - who escaped from a life of addiction herself. She knows how difficult a journey it is. All I’m asking is that if you have new board games, stuffed animals, age appropriate games etc. or any of the items Emily is asking for - that you send them to her, or donate $5 or $10 on her website so she can continue to help provide a safe place for these children - if only 8 or 10 girls at a time. If you want to do more - provide books, school supplies or “gift bags” that she takes to the bars and strip clubs for the single mothers who spend mother’s day dancing to support their children - contact her at the address below. And thank you.

* Trampoline for yard (with net)
* Badminton Game
* Tickets to any amusement parks, water parks, etc.
* Piano Lessons
* Boxing Lessons
* Christian Concert Tickets

Emily Fitchpatrick
emilyfitchpatrick [at] yahoo [dot] com
OEW Hope House
P.O. Box 9737
Asheville, NC 28815
www.hopehousenc.com