Damascus Road
Project

Who are we? 

Damascus Road Project
Damascus Road Project was founded in 2009 and is dedicated to fighting the evil of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation. We began as a grass roots ministry and recruited volunteers from church to help with the ministry. We worked out of our cars and our homes for many years until we finally had a permament office in 2018. We recently re-located from that space to 1528 Oregon Street in Oshkosh.
Damascus Road Project, Inc. is a nearly 100% specially trained volunteer run 501(c)3 non-profit organization. We operated for 15 years with only volunteers, and have now grown to a place where we have been blessed to be able to hire our first staff members! We have over 20 years of collective experience working in the anti- human trafficking movement in Wisconsin, Las Vegas, and across the U.S., as well as abroad. Damascus Road Project, Inc. has participated in hotel outreach efforts at six Super Bowls. We have worked alongside a national missing children’s organization, other anti-trafficking NGO’s, and local law enforcement, resulting in recoveries each year.

Our  Mission

Damascus Road is dedicated to fighting the evil of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation. We are committed to bring awareness through educating, restoring and empowering the abused, and advocating for the prevention and abolition of sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.

We serve the community with a three-fold approach:
  • EDUCATE (Community and professional education and training opportunities are offered to all community members.)
  • LOCATE We provide community outreach to identify those being victimized.
  • ADVOCATE We connect with those who have been victimized and offer support, compassion, encouragement and mentorship, as well as connection to appropriate resources and services. We offer a blanket and Exodus Care bag to every individual who comes to us. We have materials and resources to help each individual in their relationship with the Lord and on their journey to restoration. We offer free clothing as needed and have gathering/discipleship nights throughout the year. We also offer assistance to those women who are ready and would like to travel to a long-term recovery home in locations across the country.

Celebrations

Join us as we celebrate all God is doing in and through Damascus Road Project!

  • We have been able to hire on a former client as our very first staff member! She recently graduated AODA counseling and will assist with aftercare and administration.
  • In April, Green Bay hosted the NFL Draft. Large tourist event like the draft often result increased cases of human trafficking due to the amound of money that traffickers can make in that type of environment. Damascus Road organized a community awareness outreach effort prior to the Draft. Similar to the Super Bowl Outreaches we have done in the past. We trained nearly 80 volunteers then split up into groups and canvassed the Fox Cities from Oshkosh to Kaukauna taking missing children posters and human trafficking red flag cards to over 100 gas station and hotels in the area. Most of them were very receptive. After the event, 3 of the children pictured on our posters were no longer listed as missing. Whether that was a direct result from our efforts or not, we may not know, but the community and volunteers were trained in the process of how to recognize human trafficking, which is one of the goals of our ministry.

Prayer Requests 

Let's pray together! 

  • Please pray that God sends more long-term volunteers. We are specifically in need of a group of people to commit to planning and organizing our Family Dinners on the first Monday of every month. This is an outreach Damascus Road has done for many years, but do to the lack of designated volunteers, we are no longer able to continue to do so on a monthly basis.
    • We also need volunteers who would be willing to give rides on the 3rd Tuesday of every month in the evening for our Rooted in Life Discipleship night.
  • Please also pray that we are able to find individuals who are skilled and excited about fundraising. We are looking for a team of volunteers to head that area up as well.
  • Please pray for the health of our volunteer Directors and protection from the enemy. Our Directors are volunteer, but have had to take extended time off to care for their own health or the health of family members so it has significantly slowed our progress and has been a distraction. Whenever we get traction in a certain area it seems to get squashed by an unexpected need that comes up.
  • Pray for the physical and mental health of the volunteers as we fight this daily battle.
  • Pray for the salvation for the women we serve.
  • Please pray for discernment among our leadership for the direction of Damascus Road.

We operate a prayer ministry called Scarlet Cord. For those to sign up, they will receive a card with the initials of someone we are currently working with in aftercare. They don't communicate with that individual but simply agrees to keep that person in prayer while they are on their journey to restoration. Anyone who would like to be a prayer sponsor can contact Kim at kim@damascusroadproject.org

How Can We Help?

  • We are completely funded through donations so any financial gifts are appreciate. We have individuals and churches who support on a monthly or one-time basis. Gifts can be mailed or given on our website damascusroadproject.org.
  • We need volunteers for the following:
    • To run Family Dinners on the first Monday of every month along with those who would be willing to transport clients to and from that event, as well as our disciplship night the 3rd Tuesday of the month. Those who are interested in volunteering should contact beth@damascusroadproject.org
    • Who can help run info tables at events along with fundraising.
    • To help us hold signs for our annual Human Trafficking Awareness Day Rally at the sundial in Oshkosh on January 11th from 1-3pm. No training needed.
  • We need help advertising our Community Awareness 101 trainings. Those take place once a month. We need volunteers to post this event throughout the community and online.
  • We have a clothing boutique at our location an are currently collecting winter coats, hats, gloves, and boots. We also can use some personal care items for our Exodus Bags. A complete list can be found on our website, damascusroadproject.org.
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