Soap2hope

06/19/2026

This week, our team has been out delivering Father’s Day bags to the men we serve in our community.

Along with the bags, we included extra gifts, candy, and handwritten notes created by men in a local treatment center. It was incredible to watch faces light up as people received something thoughtful and personal. Sometimes a small act of kindness can make a much bigger impact than we realize.

One thing we’re excited to be starting this year is partnering with treatment centers to create treat bags and handwritten encouragement notes each month. It’s a simple way for people in recovery to give back and remind others that they are not alone.

Last night brought several meaningful conversations.

We talked with men who are struggling and facing difficult choices. Addiction impacts entire families, and no one is immune to that reality. Our message remains the same: You matter. There is support available. When you’re ready to make a change, we will walk alongside you.

We also met people who are making decisions that put them at risk. Sometimes what people need most is a reminder that there is another path, another choice, and another opportunity waiting for them.

One conversation that stayed with me was with a woman experiencing domestic violence. She shared the abuse she has endured and the belief that she stays because she has nowhere else to go. We reminded her that this is not true. There are options. There is support. There is hope. Sometimes the bravest decision a person can make is choosing to leave and allowing themselves the opportunity for a different future.

This work isn’t always easy, but moments like these remind us why we do it. Every conversation matters. Every person matters. And sometimes hope begins with simply showing up and letting someone know they are not alone.

06/11/2026

This Week in Outreach

This week looked a little different for our team. With our lead staff member on vacation, everyone stepped up to make sure outreach continued without interruption. Staff adjusted schedules, covered additional routes, and our incredible volunteers showed up in a big way. Not only did they help cover outreach, but they also brought donations to distribute to the people we meet. We are grateful to have such dedicated and compassionate people standing beside us in this work.

Outreach is often a mix of heartbreak and hope.

This week, we learned that a man we had connected with through outreach passed away from an overdose over the weekend. These losses never get easier. Every life matters, and moments like these remind us why this work is so important.

We also learned that one of the women we have been supporting gave birth but chose to leave the hospital shortly afterward. Our team immediately began trying to locate her to offer support, resources, and a safe space to talk through her options. These conversations are never easy, but showing up without judgment is at the heart of what we do.

At the same time, we received one of the calls that keeps us going.

A man we have been meeting with for years recently got out of jail. He called simply to say, “I’m going to treatment. I just wanted you to know.” After years of building trust and maintaining connection, he knew who to call when he was ready to take that next step.

We were also able to connect several women to the monthly Women’s Health Clinic with SupeRad, ensuring access to trauma-informed healthcare, testing, and support services that many otherwise would not receive.

During outreach, we ran into a woman we used to work with regularly. Today she is employed, doing well, and moving forward in her life. She shared that a coworker had recently tested positive for HIV and could use support. We let her know we would be happy to meet with her coworker and connect her with an amazing organization that can walk beside her every step of the journey.

Another call came from a woman we had worked with for years before she was sentenced to federal prison. After three years away, she was recently released and reached out to us. Her words were simple: “I only knew to call you.” She wanted help getting connected to Medication-Assisted Treatment so she wouldn’t fall back into the life she worked so hard to leave behind. In her voice, we heard both fear and determination—a reminder that recovery often begins with one courageous phone call.

This week was a reminder that outreach is about showing up consistently. Sometimes we walk alongside people through loss. Sometimes we help them find healthcare, housing, treatment, or hope. Sometimes we simply answer the phone when they don’t know who else to call.

Every connection matters. Every conversation matters. And because of the dedication of our staff, volunteers, partners, and supporters, we will continue showing up—one person, one conversation, and one act of compassion at a time.

06/09/2026

End trafficking🎯 every survivors voice matters!

My Purpose - The latest episode of the Odyssey House JournalsSHE’...

05/29/2026

Today, I am proud to have stood alongside these survivors, helping amplify their voices and supporting their right to speak their truth.

At the time these crimes occurred, I was conducting outreach at the Salt City Inn and worked closely with many of the women who were staying there. I witnessed the strength, courage, and resilience it took for them to come forward and continue fighting for justice.

While many of us believe that not everyone involved has been held accountable, we are grateful for this conviction and for the jury’s decision to find him guilty. This verdict represents an important step toward justice.

This outcome did not come easily. It took years of delays, rescheduled court dates, and unwavering determination from the survivors and the many advocates who stood beside them throughout this process.

Today is a victory. We stand with survivors, and we honor the courage it took for them to tell their stories and seek justice. Their voices matter, and they deserve to be heard.

Salt City Inn wasn't just a place to stay. It was operating as an active hub for s*x trafficking. We made sure the man running it answered for that crime.

The SECURE Task Force received tips in 2019. What followed was seven years of surveillance, undercover work, and witness investigation alongside the Salt Lake City Police Department.

One victim's location was unknown going into trial. A special agent found her. She testified. The jury delivered.

On May 14, a Salt Lake County jury convicted motel manager Sameer Syed of money laundering and exploitation of prostitution. He was handcuffed in the courtroom soon after the judge read the verdict.

Sentencing is August 12. Justice took seven years. It was worth it.

05/28/2026

These last few weeks have been heavy.

We have heard that a few people we have met through outreach have passed away — two from overdose and one from health-related issues. Loss is never easy, especially when these are people we have sat with, talked with, supported, and hoped for.

It is a painful reminder that what we do matters.

Providing overdose prevention, reducing barriers, offering transportation, connecting people to resources, and simply showing up with compassion can be critical in helping someone stay alive long enough to make a different choice.

And in the middle of the grief, there has also been hope.

This week, one young woman completed treatment and moved into sober living. Another person asked for a ride to VOA and was transported, with the hope that he chooses to enter a program. We were also able to take a young woman out to eat who has completed treatment, is doing IOP, looking for work, and doing incredible.

We also had a deep, heartfelt conversation with a young woman we have been meeting with for years. I asked her, “What do you need to feel supported in making the decision to exit the life?” She broke down in tears. She knows she has potential. She knows there is more for her. I told her that anytime she calls and wants to go to detox, we will walk that journey with her.

This is why we keep showing up.

We are also incredibly grateful for the partners who work alongside us and help make these pathways possible.

And to everyone who donates socks, water, hygiene items, food, supplies, and other outreach items — thank you. Every item given helps us offer not only basic needs, but dignity, connection, and a little bit of hope to each person we meet.

The work is hard. The losses hurt. But the hope is real.

05/25/2026

Yesterday this crew showed up to support us! We truly could not do this without the people who continue to show up over and over again — whether it’s serving the community, picking up donations, donating themselves, or simply being there when we call.

I’m beyond honored and grateful to have such badass people in our corner. Thank you for believing in the mission and standing beside us every step of the way. 🖤

They all got a gift from us for always showing up!

05/25/2026

Today, we pause to honor and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country. Their courage, service, and dedication will never be forgotten.