Rural Missouri - September 2024 - 49

Top left and right: The ReHope campus includes an entire building dedicated to teaching the women new trades. They make everything from
soy candles to cold-processed soaps to stainless steel tumblers. Bottom left: The women who stay at ReHope can participate in animal therapy.
By taking care of the farm's goats and chickens, they can learn to love and be loved, plus have some fun (photos provided by ReHope).
to help them when in reality ReHope has helped me. "
Cindy, who has volunteered for the past 10 years,
started out cleaning houses for them, but that soon turned
into overnight mentoring.
" I come every other week and basically hang out with
the girls. We make dessert or we'll watch a movie. I'm
available if anyone wants to talk, " she says. " I've seen with
my own eyes what a little bit of love can do to change the
lives of others. We're all the same. We can't always change
our circumstances, but we can change our hearts. "
Like Cindy, many people donate their time to ReHope,
and their contributions make a huge impact on the participants.
" We couldn't do what we do without volunteers, "
Roxie says. " They are literally the backbone to what we do,
and we have 24/7 coverage because of them. " Some volunteers
are overnight mentors, while others drive the girls to
their appointments or provide maintenance.
ReHope recently acquired Veronica's Voice, which will be
their new crisis stabilization service. " If we took someone
straight off the streets, they need some time to get stable
before coming here, " Roxie explains. " This prephase housing
will prepare them for eventually transferring to our
program or another program if we're full. "
ReHope is also actively expanding their farm. " We are
excited to be building tiny homes. We have funds raised
for infrastructure for 20 units, a community center and
the first 10 tiny homes. " In the past, ReHope couldn't
house women with children because it didn't have the
room for them. The tiny homes, with their one, two and
three bedrooms, will change that. They'll be able to house
32 individuals once the homes are completed.
" My favorite part about this program is watching
the girls rebuild their lives, " Judy says. " I was sexually
exploited at the age of 8, but wasn't trafficked until I was
28. I became homeless, actively addicted and was sold
from person to person until I was rescued and came to
live at ReHope. I am coming up on four years of sobriety
and living the best life I could imagine. Without ReHope, I
would have never been able to achieve these things. This
program is more than just a program. It is
a new chapter to a whole new life. "
Harrisonville
To learn more about ReHope, visit
www.rehope.org or contact Roxie
Loyd at roxie@rehope.org or 816793-0500.
Kaiser
is a freelance writer from
Hartville.
SEPTEMBER 2024 | RURALMISSOURI.COOP 49

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Rural Missouri - September 2024

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