A local nonprofit dedicated to helping women break the cycle of the sex trade plans to celebrate the fourth anniversary of its founding this Saturday.
Rethreaded helps women out of prostitution and human trafficking by giving them a stable job.
The organization produces items like scarves, pillows and baby bibs out of donated T-shirts.
During an appearance on WJCT's “First Coast Connect,” founder and President of Rethreaded Kristen Keen talked about how the organization how grown over the past four years.
Keen says now the nonprofit offers different career paths the women can choose from. These include sales, production, inventory and marketing.
“They get to learn skills in our business now that we’re big enough, and they get to choose where they want to go,” Keen said.
She also says Rethreaded is also launching a new line in celebration of their fourth year.
“We have a new simplicity line, which is beautiful. It’s a T-shirt and copper line,” Keen said.
The women are using t-shirt and copper materials to make the creations for this new line.
She says her team has been able to give 10,000 hours of work to women with Rethreaded.
“I think the biggest thing that Rethreaded does is just offer hope,” Keen said. “Women that we don’t even know that have heard of us say that that gives them hope, that there’s a business for them to have a new start.”
Rethreaded’s birthday celebration will take place this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its warehouse near downtown at 820 Barnett St, Jacksonville, FL 32209.
There will be live music, food and Jacksonville’s First Lady Mayor Molly Curry will speak.
Listen to the full conversation with Kristen Keen on Thursday’s episode of the “First Coast Connect” podcast on iTunes.
