Harvest of Hope: Local organizations bring awareness to child abuse through Elizabeth Smart event

MOSES LAKE — “I’m so blessed to be a part of something that’s bringing a message of hope and healing to our community,” said Suzi Fode, director of New Hope in Moses Lake.

Partnering with the Columbia Basin Foundation, New Hope/Kids Hope, at 311 W. Third Ave., is opening the door to sponsorships for its Harvest of Hope event

Oct. 14, where child safety activist Elizabeth Smart will share her story of triumph.

According to elizabethsmart.com, Smart was abducted on June 5, 2002, in Salt Lake City, abused, brainwashed and threatened. She was rescued nine months later, and has since written a book and traveled the country to speak on recovery.

“We wanted people to know exactly nine months before our event so that we could mark this time right now, the launch of this week, and nine months from now, when we have our event, we know that’s the same period of time that Elizabeth was held captive,” Fode said. “Nine months is a long time.”

For nine months, Columbia Basin Foundation Director Corrine Isaak said, Smart was trapped, wishing she could see her family.

“As a mother of five children myself, seeing a child abducted and the months go on, people think ‘she’s not coming home,’ you know?” Isaak said.

There is no better time for this event, Fode said. Kids Hope served more local abuse survivors in 2020 than any other year.

“Sexual abuse is alive and well whether there’s a pandemic or not,” Fode said. “We need to be there to support, because all the isolation and ‘stay home, stay safe’ kids are not exposed to people who could be making reports or catching some of the signs of something going awry at home.”

One in 10 children will experience sexual abuse, Fode said. Ninety percent of the time the abuser is someone they know. Grant and Adams counties are no exceptions.

According to newhopewa.org, New Hope provides free and confidential services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and other crimes. The Columbia Basin Foundation, built on a variety of charitable contributions, serves as a catalyst for producing relationships based upon compassion, service and integrity.

Smart’s story is powerful to survivors of abuse, Fode said. It’s much needed representation in this community.

Kids can identify and say, “‘I experienced something awful, too. Maybe not abduction but something awful. And look where she’s at today. That can be me. I can heal,” Fode said.

The event will be at the Advanced Technologies Education Center at Big Bend Community College, 7662 Chanute St. NE, which holds 320 people. Depending on COVID-19 restrictions at the time, the organizations have partnered with the Public Utility District to hold it virtually as well.

Columbia Basin Foundation and New Hope are currently looking for sponsors for the event. Table tickets can be purchased at columbiabasinfoundation.org.

They are also accepting donations on an ongoing basis.

“We will be serving children now and in nine months, and after that and then some,” Fode said.

One last thing folks can do to support, Fode said, is to keep an eye on children. If you see something, report it, she said.

Sam Fletcher can be reached via email at sfletcher@columbiabasinherald.com.