North Star Initiative

We are still radiating joy and gratitude from the incredible evening at Light the Way 2026!

In all, $239,197 was raised so far as a result of your generosity – a Light the Way record!

Hope permeated our time together, as we joined with friends, staff, survivors and community members to shine a light into the dark.

As we announced on Thursday, mark your calendars now for Light the Way 2027 on September 16 at The Star Barn!

Light the Way 2026 is one. day. away! Year after year, this event is an inspirational celebration of the beautiful and resilient survivors North Star is privileged to serve. And it's a celebration of our friends and supporters who, like us, envision a trafficking-proof community. We'll see you at The Star Barn — doors open at 5:30 p.m. for check-in, the silent auction (live now!), amazing appetizers, an impactful program, plus more delicious food stations and hand-crafted mocktails. We are honored to shine a light into the darkness alongside you.

What we wear can tell a story. Have you thought of the significance of putting on a uniform? What it means about belonging, purpose, vocation and personal growth? One of our core commitments is to invest in survivors' long-term financial sustainability, and workforce development is a major part of that commitment. When one of the residents we serve put on a work uniform a few weeks ago for her first shift at a new job and proudly beamed, we all cheered.

For her, having a uniform means having an opportunity to participate in the workforce for the first time. It means that she can earn and save her own income. It means that she can dream about where she will live and how she will participate in the community, long after she completes our program.

We empower survivors to reclaim the lives they are created to enjoy, and some days, that means empowering her to put on a uniform of her own for a job she chose.

With Light the Way 2026 just two days again, we are humbled to once more thank this year's generous event sponsors. We are deeply grateful for the partners who invest in each survivor we serve. Because of these supporters and friends, our largest fundraiser of the year is a chance to ignite hope. Thank you to the businesses and individuals who make it possible for us to gather at Light the Way to end trafficking.

It's National Coffee Day! Several items at the upcoming Light the Way: Ignite Hope event on October 1 highlight some of the amazing coffee spots in our area:

☕Joe on the Go - Cafe service part of the live auction
☕Coffee Co.
☕Copper Cup
☕Corner Coffee Shop
☕Dosie Dough
☕Twin Valley Coffee
☕Whisk Cafe
☕Coffee Lovers Gift Basket

If you're a fan of local coffee, you won't want to miss Light the Way! Just a few tickets remain: northstarinitiative.org/events.

Puppies. Chickens. Tomatoes. Swings. What do these have in common, and what do they have to do with North Star?

Inviting healing can take different shapes. For women healing from significant, complex trauma, connecting with themselves, nature and animals can be profoundly restorative. Over the past few days, residents experienced puppies, gardening, caring for chickens, and swinging outside with staff and volunteers. Experiences like these offer healing, grounding and reconnecting to their childhood in safe ways, and we are grateful for each person that makes these experiences part of daily life at the Harbor.

You make it possible for survivors to experience meaningful, every day moments, and each one makes a difference. Thank you!

The Light the Way silent auction is now open! Once you secure your ticket, you can join in the bidding fun right from your phone!

Check out just a few of the many items up for bid...

✨Home for the Holidays: Elizabeth Farms | Christmas Tree Farm $250 Gift Card, Family Photo Session at Elizabeth Farms, Handmade Crocheted Holiday Throw

✨The Lititz Experience: One-Night Stay at The Wilbur Lititz Tapestry Collection by Hilton, $25 Dosie Dough Gift Card, Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery Gift Basket

✨Three-Piece Outdoor Bistro Set

✨Ultimate Family Fun: Cherry Crest Adventure Farm Admission for Two, Laserdome Family Fun Pack for Four, Sky Zone Trampoline Park Six 60-Minute Jump Passes

✨Golf for Four including Carts at Bent Creek Country Club

✨Chef’s Delight: $500 Gift Card to Stoltzfus Meats, Lancaster Cast Iron No. 8 Skillet, Cast Iron Care Kit

Still need tickets to Light the Way? It's not too late. Ticket sales continue through Monday, September 28 at onecau.se/ignitehope.

We'd love to have you on our volunteer team!

Light the Way is 10 days away!

If you already have your tickets, we can’t wait to see you on October 1 at The Star Barn! Still making plans? Invite family and friends to join you for a powerful program, live and silent auctions, gourmet food stations, handcrafted mocktails, and an unforgettable evening together.

Reserve your tickets today at northstarinitiative.org/events.