Seeking to be Good Samaritans to The Samaritan Women

One of ATI’s training partners TrainingEtc has a community service program that ATIcourses wants to publicize. You can read more about their volunteer program at http://www.trainingetc.com/illumanation/illumworkday.html On Thursday, July 3, through the steady downpour of morning rain and the 95 degree muggy afternoon heat, nine /training/etc employees and our friends and family spent the day […]
One of ATI’s training partners TrainingEtc has a community service program that ATIcourses wants to publicize. You can read more about their volunteer program at http://www.trainingetc.com/illumanation/illumworkday.html On Thursday, July 3, through the steady downpour of morning rain and the 95 degree muggy afternoon heat, nine /training/etc employees and our friends and family spent the day serving The Samaritan Women (TSW) in Baltimore, MD. Our committed group spent the day tilling the soil, pulling weeds, harvesting produce, and moving heavy pavers and rocks. Although it was tiring and challenging, we felt privileged to be able to serve this worthy organization.   TSW’s mission is to promote health, healing, and hope for women who have been impacted by domestic human trafficking. As a Christian nonprofit organization, TSW fulfills their mission through four primary efforts.   Operating a transitional residence program that emphasizes life-rebuilding and reconciliation for women recovering from trauma and traffickingTSW’s objective through the residence program is to transform broken women into thriving members of society. They serve women of trauma and trafficking by encouraging relational, social, and spiritual development and teaching them how to care for themselves and achieve academically and vocationally, all while providing a clean and safe temporary home for them. Offering a vocational program focusing on culinary arts and entrepreneurism – The Culinary Arts program at TSW teaches women safe food handling, food and equipment identification, nutrition, menu-planning, and basic kitchen support. The women learn many of the skills through guided instruction as they prepare meals for the residents of the program.   Managing a large urban farm that grows produce to support their vocational program – Women in the program participate in planting, growing, harvesting, preparing, serving, and enjoying the food. They even learn about composting what’s left! TSW utilizes the “seed to table” concept, meaning that the culinary arts program is fully integrated with their urban farm. Leading a state-wide social justice initiative against human trafficking (the Maryland Rescue and Restore Coalition) –  The Maryland Rescue and Restore Coalition began in 2009 as a ministry extension of TSW.  In 2010, the Department of Health and Human Services renamed it The Maryland Rescue and Restore Coalition and expanded their scope to include public awareness, care-giver training, and collaboration with law enforcement on prevention and intervention. Although it was a wet, hot, and physically tiring day, we felt mentally recharged and invigorated by day’s end. We enjoyed getting to know the staff at TSW and hearing the fascinating history behind the property and buildings. We also look forward to further opportunities to serve TSW – to assist them in helping women impacted by domestic human trafficking.  
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