Mary’s first sex trafficking experience was when she was just eight years old—and the man who sold her was her own father. As a young girl growing up in Indiana, Mary said she remembers her uncle putting vodka in her juice cup and then molesting her. She recalls climbing trees and hiding there overnight in order to avoid her dad. By age 12, she was a full-blown alcoholic.

My dad would pimp me out to my friend’s dads and then their dads would pimp them out to my dad. Then they would gamble all the money away. It had a huge impact on me. It ruined me. I drank for 48 years and I have three boys I couldn’t even raise. I’m depressed. I don’t trust anyone and no one trusts me.

Mary is now 58 and living in Reno where she receives counseling and life support from Awaken, an organization that she says helps her cope and attempt to heal from the trauma of her past. Mary is still struggling with addiction and mental illness, although Awaken is one of the brightest spots in her life. Her favorite events at Awaken are the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday dinners that provide the family atmosphere she never had as a kid.

They put me in a safe environment and keep me focused. Everyone always wants to say, ‘oh you poor thing, that must have been so hard.’ No one at Awaken puts you down that way. They just work to make sure I am safe and loved. There is a sisterhood among the girls there.

The abuse from Mary’s childhood led her to a lifetime of alcoholism and sex trafficking. She was taught by the very people meant to protect her that her body was only good for making money and pleasuring men.

That’s all I ever knew, and it was a matter of paying rent. I have gotten myself in situations I didn’t want to be in. I’ve been raped and I have always lived in fear. Then I needed something to calm me down so I could breathe. Alcohol did that for me.

Mary wishes she had support from an organization like Awaken when she was a child because she thinks her life might have turned out differently. She believes that preventing other girls like her from being trafficked and controlled is possible, but that caring adults need to look out for the warning signs and speak up when something doesn’t seem right.

Prevention is so important for girls who have been degraded, walked on, stomped on and discarded. These girls are just babies who want love. When someone gives them attention, they are in. I think if someone would have reached out a hand to me and held it, it would have been nice.

Since Awaken was founded in 2011, it has reached more than 700 women and children in the Northern Nevada community. Awaken’s mission is to increase awareness and education surrounding the issue of commercial sexual exploitation and to provide housing and restoration for its victims.


Since Awaken was founded in 2011, it has reached more than 700 women and children in the Northern Nevada community. Awaken’s mission is to increase awareness and education surrounding the issue of commercial sexual exploitation and to provide housing and restoration for its victims.

Thank you to all of the Awaken donors and supporters who have helped us reach this important milestone of ten years!