Why do I love being a part of North Star Initiative? Because they are a godly force to be reckoned with when conquering the evil affects sex trafficking has on it's survivors! There is no other faith-based restoration program like it in Lancaster County. The restoration coaches, trauma team, staff and volunteers all carry a quality of compassion and faith that can only come from God our Father. I'm grateful for the donors and partners, who rise quickly to meet the residents basic personal and household needs. There is no greater joy in witnessing a survivor graduating and becoming successful in their new found life of healing and freedom.
North Star Initiative recently was caught revictimizing several of their survivors in their care this 2022. Extremely shady and appalling nonprofit. Most of the survivors in their care this year have left due to being revictimized by the nonprofit staff, especially their Executive Director who was just fired for taking a part in this.
I contacted them about these detrimental actions towards the survivors, and their board just swept it under the rug and downplayed it as a "challenge" of growing too fast instead of owning up to the psychological abuse and revictimization actions of the organization on the women survivors. NSI should be investigated and shut down! If you are looking to volunteer or become a donor, do not as you will be supporting their heinous and reprehensible actions.
They talk about success stories, yet they have none as they have all left because of being victimized or asked to leave. It's appalling to hear that they say they honor God when all their actions are just the opposite (from not telling the truth to donors, churches, constituents and the local community it serves about what really happened and how the board failed to take action) and just dismissing it as grown pains to save face. This nonprofit is causing psychological, emotional, and spiritual damage to these survivors in their care, just the opposite of what they say they supposedly do.
I've served with North Star for several years now and its been an incredible journey. Running a program to rehabilitate victims of sex trafficking is challenging but every time I hear about another success story it makes it worth it. To be totally transparent we have our challenges and not every story ends the way we would like it to, but I can tell you heart of North Star is focused on our serving our survivors and before that honoring God. The board meetings begin and end with prayer, this helps us keep focused on our purpose, "North Star Initiative supports women who are survivors of domestic sex trafficking by providing physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual care through a Christ-centered focus." North Star is a young organization and continues to grow, personally I am impressed with how it has adapted by continually evaluating and making hard decisions as new challenges arise.
I learned about NS through my church. After orientation and learning more details about the ministry, I recognized the amazing mission and organization with which it is carried out and began volunteering in March. I love "working" two evenings a week to help at the home. Getting to know the residents has been a huge blessing. I am actually more blessed each time I am there than anything I may bestow on them - it is incredible to see these young women begin to flourish slowly. Sharing the unconditional love of God is a huge part of volunteering here. This is a well-organized and focused ministry that seems to be fulfilling its calling to help restore lives. I am thankful to serve here!
North Star Initiative is an organization that is truly making a difference. I volunteer each week and get the joy of watching residents be surrounded by people who care about them. This ministry is desperately needed and so important in times like these.
My name is Kathy Anderson, and I have been a volunteer with North Star Initiative for over 3 years.
I have always had a passion for nutrition, health and fitness, and after learning of the horrid escalation of the sex trafficking industry in my own area, I prayed about how I could get involved in the fight and be part of the solution.
Amazingly, I found out about North Star Initiative, where I could use my skills and passion as an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach to serve the survivors there. It is my deepest honor to serve these amazing young women! And now, I can’t picture myself doing anything else with my life!
Each week I meet with the residents and we discuss practical ways to love, care for and nurture our bodies, souls and spirits. Many of these women despise their bodies – and after what they have experienced, who would blame them? Although it’s just a small piece in the enormous and intricate puzzle of healing from trauma, I get the beautiful privilege of walking with them as they learn to respect, nurture and love their bodies again.
As one of the women shared, “Thank you so much for spending this time with me – it’s changed my life!”
Being a volunteer with North Star Initiative is one of the greatest things I have ever been part of in my entire life. Watching broken lives transform before my very eyes has been nothing short of thrilling. My hope is that I will be part of serving with North Star Initiative for as long as I live!
I have the privilege of volunteering at North Star. The staff and coaches truly care about these precious ladies. They support them in significant ways. Lives are being changed. Thank you to all who help make the Haven a place for recovery and healing.
Northstar initiative made it possible for me to be a blessing to young ladies rescued from trafficking. The relationships on forming their or hopefully meaningful and help the girls to move forward into a new life.
I first learned about the mission of North Star at a "Welcome to the Battle" event held at my church and have had the absolute honor of volunteering. One of the best volunteering experiences I've ever had. Each person is treated with dignity and integrity. Communication is stellar. I look forward to my weekly visits.
North Star Initiative is a FANTASTIC, faith-based program serving the most vulnerable through restorative care with compassion and professionalism. As a social worker I cannot emphasize enough how impressed I am with their strengths-based and person-centered approach, truly working with each survivor to create appropriate programming and therapeutic resources based on her unique needs and trauma history.
I started volunteering with North Star in 2018. I have personally witnessed survivors come from living in the depths of depravity to rejoicing in the choir at church. North Star Initiative not only provides the love and support that survivors need, but it also gives survivors the time to heal by providing a safe long term residence where survivors can get the help they need to move forward. I am so proud to be a part of their volunteer team.
North Star has been educating Lancaster and surrounding counties about sex trafficking that is happening in our communities. North Star has helped over 15 survivors of domestic trafficking navigate their way towards freedom from sex trafficking. I have personally worked with several of their staff members and find their organization to be Christ-Centered and mission-driven. Truly a privilege to call them a nonprofit that works in our community.