“One Purse helped me learn to love myself again. They invested in me and this made me want to invest in myself, by never giving up even when the moments are dark.”

Since 2022, One Purse has walked alongside Maria in her journey to earn a Master’s in Criminal Justice. A mom of three, Maria has persevered and is set to graduate this year, maintaining all A’s, as well as a nomination for the university’s Honor Society. Her goal is to use her degree to work with law enforcement in the anti-trafficking space.

“One Purse is not like other agencies. They aren’t just offering a few hundred dollars. They offer hefty scholarships that actually move survivors forward. They believe in survivors. They offer to pray with you and for you. I did not feel like just another person they had to deal with. One Purse cares deeply about the survivors that they are helping. They are walking alongside you in your journey, and they make this very obvious in the way they communicate with you.”

Maria’s story is a familiar one, common to many who are exploited by someone they know and should be able to trust, and often, as in Maria’s case, at a young age. Maria now has the ability to create a different life for her children.

“As mamas, we would walk through fire for our kids. This will never change. Is it hard? Yes. But, it is SO worth it. Praise God for organizations like One Purse for always helping survivors, for treating them like human beings, and investing in them so that they can have the COURAGE to continue to invest in themselves! One Purse helped me, but they also helped 3 other people. They gave 3 children a healthy mama, who is a fighter, and will never stop picking others up when they fall! By donating to One Purse, you not only help the trafficking survivors. You help their families, you help communities, and you help the entire world. All I can say is AMEN!!!”

Already putting that degree to work, Maria founded a faith-based, anti-trafficking organization in 2023, empowering survivors to reclaim their independence through survivor-led peer support and general assistance for everyday necessities. She is continuing to educate her community through partnerships with Homeland Security and local law enforcement to provide a trauma-informed approach to helping victims and survivors in rural areas of vulnerable populations.