When Maritza* first met her trafficker, she was a 19-year-old single mother with no job and no support system. Traffickers prey on vulnerability, and Maritza was a target. Maritza lived on the streets, desperate to provide for her child. She met someone who promised her a better life — in exchange for her body. By the time she realized the truth, it was too late.

Maritza lives in the Western Hemisphere — but we can’t tell you the country, for the security of our partner and the people they serve.

In this country, like too many others, a devastating cycle of poverty has paved the way for an unfolding crisis: vulnerable youth and women preyed upon by human traffickers. For many people seemingly trapped in generational poverty, hope feels lost.

"I never thought I'd be able to break free from my trafficker"

That’s when Maritza stumbled upon FMSC partner Outreach Aid to the Americas.

For over 30 years, Outreach Aid to the Americas has been working tirelessly to provide relief aid, advocacy and development programs to communities in need. And in Maritza’s country, their work took on a new dimension, tackling hunger and human trafficking.

OAA partners with local organizations and churches to provide comprehensive support services to vulnerable youth and women. Providing MannaPack Rice has become a tangible representation of their commitment to eradicating hunger and human trafficking.

When Maritza met OAA’s local partner, she received MannaPack® meals and something else: a chance to start over.

"I never thought I'd be able to break free from my trafficker," Maritza shared, her eyes welling up with tears. "But thanks to the MannaPack distribution center, I had food, shelter and support. I was able to start rebuilding my life."

Many trafficking victims are tricked with promises of food and work but end up in situations of forced labor or sexual exploitation.

Food support is crucial to prevent human trafficking before it starts. When communities have reliable access to food, people are less desperate and less likely to fall for the false promises of traffickers.

Receiving MannaPack meals has proved to be a game-changer for many like Maritza. Each pack contains vital nutrition-rich food that could last for weeks, providing sustenance for those struggling to access basic necessities. But more importantly, it represents a beacon of hope in the darkness.

"We've lost count of how many young girls have been taken from our streets"

One OAA community partner has seen firsthand the devastating effects of trafficking in his community. "We've lost count of how many young girls have been taken from our streets," he said solemnly. "But with Outreach Aid to the Americas' help, we've been able to provide them with a safe haven and the resources they need to heal."

When you donate to FMSC, you provide critical meals for lifesaving, lifechanging programs like this.

* Name changed for privacy.