These are some of the more common questions
people ask about Run 2 Rescue
Who is Run 2 Rescue?
Shannon Forsythe is the co-founder of Run 2 Rescue along with her husband, private investigators, law enforcement, pastors and friends who each want to see as many trapped victims as possible rescued and restored. Run 2 Rescue is a non-profit organization formed to combat the growing crisis of sexual exploitation here in the United States. For the safety and security of the operations, team members and rescued victims, many details cannot be publicly shared.
How long has Run 2 Rescue been in existance?
Run 2 Rescue has been operating for over 10 years since 2012. We helped hundreds of girls and operate multiple homes as well as a warehouse for in-kind donations and supplies.
How are you notified of trafficking cases?
Run 2 Rescue is notified in various ways: sometimes through family members of victims, sometimes through law enforcement investigations, and even sometimes through press or online publications.
FBI rescues 79 underage victims of sex trafficking
Isn't this some type of "cult reprogramming"?
Run 2 Rescue is all about - rescuing - those that are held captive against their will due to sex trafficking and sexual exploitation. Therefore, we do not hold victims against their will. Cults, and especially those that hold people captive, are a legitimate concern for Christians and those of us who cherish our God given freedoms. We do not force Christian indoctrination on the victims as a prerequisite for rescue nor is doctrine acceptance required for the survivors care. As a Christian organization we do aim to share the love of God through our words and actions as a part of the restoring process. Jesus said:
"The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed..." -- Luke 14:8
Aren't you just in it for the reward money?
Ugh, no. First, reward money is rarely offered. Second, Run 2 Rescue operates strictly on donations received and is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, so all financial gifts are tax-deductible. Therefore, no payment is required for rescuing or restoring a victim held captive nor is reward money our motive for assitance. Our motive is to - Reach, Rescue and Restore - lives from sexual exploitation. There are many expenses involved in such operations, we receive no government funding, grants or payments for the services we provide these victims and we would greatly appreciate any financial help you can offer at: https://run2rescue.com/donate.php
Can't the church or the government do this instead?
As this work is resource and time intensive, we've found most churches are not looking to specialize in this difficult area of ministry. We are so thankful for those few churches that have stepped up to assist us with backpacks, prayer or financial support. Government agencies can help in identifying victims and police level rescue operations but are often not setup for restoration of victims.
Do you get paid by the state or local government for each girl you help?
No, we are only funded by donations from people like you! Some have thought we get paid like a foster care home (where payments are made per child housed). We do not operate in that way and have never received or solicited per victim payments or any other government grants.
How can I give or donate to Run 2 Rescue?
First, thank you for wanting to help us and God bless you for that!! Second, we have tried to make donating to us as easy and secure as possible, so use whichever method is best for you:
Why do you prefer Zelle for donations?
Run 2 Rescue appreciates whatever donation amount and method works best for you but we prefer Zelle because we dont have to wait days to receive funds and there is currently no cost to you or us. When you use V/MC/A cards to donate we experience:
Oddly, credit/debit card donations can take many days and somtimes WEEKS(!) to arrive in our bank account. And then we have to pay processing and platform fees that have cost us thousands of dollars over the years, only to receive donated funds many days later. Not ideal. So if you don't mind taking an extra second to open your bank app/website, please use Zelle to give to Run 2 Rescue and then let us know your contact information so we can supply you with an end of year statement (becuase we will only see your name and amount given).
Can I donate in-kind gifts like clothes, blankets, teddy-bears or backpacks?
Probably. It really depends on the current number and needs of the girls we or our partners are working with and our existing inventory of supplies. Please contact us for questions regarding needed itmes and up to date inventory availability.
Where do victims go after they are rescued?
Usually and primarily new girls would go to our Immediate Hope Home. However, one of our first and foremost concerns is a victim's physical health and safety. While there are many similarities, each survivor's story is unique. They may initially require emergency medical care. In many cases, because these girls have been heavily drugged, drug detox may be one of their initial steps. The physiological hold some drugs have on these brave survivors is intense, and their bodies scream at them to go back for more. After the initial short term care, then family reunification and longer term care options are discussed and made available to them. * Please understand, many sex traffickers are very organized and utilize undercover informants who may also be online. They do this to access information about investigations to avoid prosecution and/or survivors' locations to recapture and/or harm them. For the safety of the survivors, we will not be able to release detailed personal information or care locations to the public. *
Don't these girls just want to be left alone?
Rarely, since many of those in the commercial sex industry are being trafficked through FORCE, FRAUD or COERCION. They have usually been trained and conditioned to answer law enforcement in such a way as to avoid incarceration. And we recognize that sometimes the missing want to escape dangerous or abusive circumstances at home, which is why we desire to provide a safe place of refuge for them as well. However, a victim's choice is a very important and sensitive question as it gets to the heart of Run 2 Rescue since it is a question of an individuals' will.
We see basically 4 categories of trafficked victims:
The first 2 categories are more easily addressed as child abductions, or sometimes known as "endangered runaways" but are usually considered "missing" children. However, according to the Department of Health and Human Services, if a person is under 18 and involved in prostitution, they are automatically considered a victim of sex trafficking. The sex traffickers will use some form of force, fraud or coercion on every victim to gain and maintain a grip on their lives. When a girl is over 18, the situation changes due to her potential choice in the matter.
Suzanne’s Law requires local police to immediately notify the National Crime Information Center if a reported missing person is between the ages of 18 to 21 since they are still considered at risk. The question becomes: is the victim being held against her will through force, like locked rooms, bars and handcuffs? Is the person being held through fraud, like deception or blackmail? Is the victim being coerced through fear for their lives / family's lives or addictive drugs? We attempt to navigate these dark waters and do all we can to help those in need, who recognize their crisis and want to escape their captors.
Can't these girls just choose to leave?
Often girls that have been captured, who then put up a fight, are subjected to being "broken" through repeated gang rapes and beatings until she loses the will to resist. Again, from the Department of Health and Human Services: "Sex traffickers use a variety of methods to “condition” their victims including starvation, confinement, beatings, physical abuse, rape, gang rape, threats of violence to the victims and the victims’ families, forced drug use and the threat of shaming their victims by revealing their activities to their family and their families’ friends."
How can I help or get involved in rescues?
Currently our primary need is prayer and financial support to see more victims rescued as Run 2 Rescue is only supported through donations. As for getting involved to volunteer, contact us to let us know where you are located, provide us some background information and we can look into what options are currently available. Thank you for wanting to help!!