Saturday, June 4 is the 2022 Soldotna Barefoot Mile from the Diamond M Ranch Resort. The event is to walk a mile in solidarity with impoverished and trafficked children, and it is being conducted to raise funds for JOY International, a global non-profit organization, and Home of Hope, an Alaska-based non-profit, with the mission of ending the cycle of human trafficking by providing a refuge for adolescent victims of sex trafficking and exploitation.
Breanna Rutledge tells KSRM:
“Yeah so, we are doing the barefoot mile which is a mile walk in solidarity with impoverished and trafficked children. It will take place in Soldotna. Basically, it’s to raise money for Home of Hope which is a long-term care facility for children that have been rescued from sex trafficking here on the Peninsula. We are raising money to open it. It is Saturday, June 4th. Registration begins at 12:00 p.m. noon and the walk will begin at 1:00 p.m.”
Rutledge details the events of this past year:
“So last year at the Barefoot Mile, we raised $10,000 with all the proceeds going into our project to build and this year we’ve been raising money and we’re getting ready to build the foundation in the next couple of weeks here in town.”
At last year’s events, there were awareness booths to bring light to the issue:
“Sex trafficking is the fastest growing crime here in Alaska and you’ll be able to see our progress at our Home of Hope booth as well as Joy International, who is our partner organization.”
The idea is to reach out to those who have been victims of sex trafficking:
“Yes, our home will be for children ages 8 to 18 who have been trafficked, who will receive private referrals as well as referrals from law enforcement and then the children will live in our home in a homestyle model.”
Joy International is dedicated to the rescue, restoration and reintegration of children, teens, and young women affected by trafficking and the prevention of child trafficking worldwide. Home of Hope was established in 2016 as an organization dedicated to help fight adolescent human trafficking in the U.S.
Registration is free. Additionally, there will be a silent auction, live music, and kids’ activities.
The event is being held in memory of Lisa H. Moore.
Click here for more information.
