We don't like to think that things like this happen in our community, but they do. Human trafficking, of which sex trafficking is one form, is an ongoing issue in our world; no community is immune.

Because of this, our March Spotlight on Mission featured the work of I've Got a Name, a Lincoln based non-profit founded by Bob Burton (ass't athletic director for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln), works to fight sex trafficking and exploitation through raising awareness, engaging in legislative and social advocacy, and (most importantly) working one-on-one with women and girls.

For more information on how to get involved please visit I've Got a Name's website, or contact the church office.

At the end of April, members and friends of Southern Heights joined with others from across the city to participate in the No Girl Should Be For Sale Walk around Downtown Lincoln to help raise awareness of the issue of sex trafficking that is going on in our community (click on pictures to scroll through the gallery).

Southern Heights will be collecting donations of goods and cash to support the work of I've Got a Name through the end of 2014. Please contact the church office for more information.

In November, as part of our ongoing Spotlight on Mission program to highlight service opportunities in our community as well as mission programs that are supported financially by Southern Heights, we invited Pastor Tom from People's City Mission to come and share about the work being done at the Mission and ways that we can get involved.

The People's City Mission, located near downtown, seeks to serve Lincoln by providing food, shelter, and more to the homeless and near homeless in our community.

PCM was founded in 1907, and has been continuously serving the community ever since. In recent years, PCM has expanded beyond being an emergency shelter, and provides food programs, a free clinic, a homelessness prevention center, mentoring programs, and more.

According the the Mission's website:
People’s City Mission provides three meals a day to over 300 men, women and children staying in the emergency shelters and the Curtis Center transitional housing program.
The Homeless Prevention Center provides free food, clothing, household items, furniture, toys, and personal care items to people living at or near the poverty line.
Over 98% of our support comes from private donation.

In 2012, People’s City Mission:
Provided services to 32,580 people in Lincoln/Lancaster County.
Provided 118,124 nights of shelter.
Assisted 2,140 unduplicated guests.
Served over 172,454 meals.
Gave away 1,031,467 lbs of food through the Homeless Prevention Center.
Served 7,794 patients through our Free Clinic by providing free medical, dental, vision, and behavioral health care to low-income Lincoln residents without medical insurance.
Welcomed 14,562 volunteers.