When there's much work to be done, it can be overwhelming, and it's sometimes easy to lose sight of the work that has already been performed. That's why it's important to periodically take a step back, take stock and celebrate progress.

Hope. Inspire. Love. is celebrating seven years of battling human trafficking and sexual exploitation. But in no way does that mean that the faith-centered nonprofit is satisfied or that its mission is complete.

On Saturday, June 24, at the Lancaster Country Club, 1466 New Holland Pike, Lancaster, Hope. Inspire. Love. will present its inaugural Hope for Freedom Gala. Doors will open at 5 p.m., and the gala program will commence at 6 p.m.

While the festive atmosphere promises to assure attendees a good time, the Hope for Freedom Gala will also serve as an educational tool for Hope. Inspire. Love.'s mission and the depth of the human trafficking problem locally.

"It's a fundraiser to share and celebrate the work that's already been done," said Amy Thurston, CEO and president of Hope. Inspire. Love. "People in our community have heard about our work, and they're supporting the mission. Local businesses see the work we're doing, and they want to get behind it. It makes this event more special."

The Hope for Freedom Gala will feature hors d'oeuvres, a silent auction, live music, a spoken word performance and a live painting of an artist's interpretation of hope, as well as dinner. Thurston said that over 100 supporters have already registered for the event and that Hope. Inspire. Love. is hoping for another 100 attendees.

The goal is to raise $35,000 in donations to provide trauma-informed mentorship to survivors of sex trafficking, prevention and education initiatives and outreach and awareness events.

"Human trafficking is the business of stealing freedom for profit," said Thurston. "There's labor trafficking and sex trafficking. It involves deceptions and lies and physical violence. It's that control and manipulation piece."

Thurston said that human trafficking is the second largest criminal industry in the United States and that it generates an estimated $150.2 billion annually. She also said Pennsylvania reported the 15th-most human trafficking cases among states in the country last year.

"It's a larger problem than people realize," said Thurston. "Lancaster has one of the highest rates of reported trafficking. We don't know the signs and what this thing looks like. It affects more women than men, and a lot of women don't self-identify because they don't realize what it is."

Founded in 2017, Hope. Inspire. Love. combats human trafficking and sexual exploitation through awareness, preventative education and mentorship. In addition to Lancaster County, Hope. Inspire. Love. operates in Philadelphia, Norristown, Reading, York and Lebanon.

"Our organization exists because of a train ride to Philadelphia," said Thurston. "My husband, (Steve), saw a younger woman with an older man. As he began to observe them, he could tell it wasn't a father-daughter relationship. When he looked into her eyes, he saw her darkness. The gentleman saw (him watching), grabbed her and took her off the train. My husband froze and didn't do anything."

"But when he came home and told me what he saw, he said he couldn't do nothing," continued Thurston. "William Wilberforce said, 'You can choose to look the other way, but never again can you say that you never knew.'"

For more information about Hope. Inspire. Love., go to http://www.hopeinspirelove.org.