Route 20 holds benefit concert for human trafficking victims

 

STURTEVANT, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Two-and-a half years after fire nearly shut down an organization that helps victims of human trafficking in Kenosha and Racine, the struggle to keep going continues. Tonight, the community they help is giving back.

The organization's called "Fight to End Exploitation". They lost everything in a fire in 2020 but didn't give up. And nights like these remind them why.

In a crowd full of donors at this Friday night fundraiser at Route 20, there are victims here too. We won't show you their faces, but they tell us their lives have been saved thanks to the help they found from "Fight to End Exploitation."

"The first patient I ever took care of that was trafficked was in 2012 and she was 11 years old and she had been trafficked for two years," said Rachel Cortez, registered nurse with Fight to End Exploitation.

"In the last 10 years we have helped in this area alone 450 victims of human trafficking ranging in age from 10 years to 62 years old," said Karri Hemmig, executive director and co-founder of Fight to End Exploitation.

But a fire at their Racine offices during the unrest in June of 2020 jeopardized the future of Fight to End Exploitation. They shared this video of the sorrow they found when they went to assess the damages.

"I never in a million years would've thought that our offices would've burned down. So, I think it was a shock at first," said Hemmig.

Everything in the office, known as the Villa Street Cop House, was gone. Police say the fire was intentionally set. Two-and-a-half years later, Fight to End Exploitation hasn't given up. They're back in the office. Fundraisers like these help replenish their first-aid kits like toiletries, clothing and gift cards, and the cash needed to help out-of-state victims.

"We've actually facilitated getting them back home. So, we work with airlines, we work with bus companies. We work with everything like that to help get them on a safe way home," said Cortez.

Two bands here in Sturtevant giving their time and talents to the cause too, and their music drawing is people out to help.

"I work in the school system; Kenosha Unified School system and I've personally known some children who have been groomed and trafficked themselves. So, it hits home with us and myself," said Betsy Ade of the band "Betsy Ade & The Well-Known Strangers."

The bands will be playing until 11:00 tonight here at Route 20. If you know someone who's a victim of human trafficking, or if you'd like to volunteer your time with them, you can find them online here.