After having had enough of her father’s sexual abuse, Sarah (last name withheld), 12, found refuge in foster care and assistance through the children’s advocacy center Safe Passage.

Sarah met with a forensic interviewer and got a medical exam from UCHealth. Her foster parent discussed Sarah’s ordeal with a Safe Passage advocate, and received education and resources information. “I was so nervous, but it wasn’t as bad or as scary as I thought it would be,” Sarah told the front desk receptionist.

According to Emily Bowker, director of Development, Strategy and Partnerships, the outcome is unknown as the case is still under investigation. “We know Sarah is in a safe place with her foster parent while waiting for the investigation to be completed,” Bowker said.

Safe Passage gives abused children a voice and healing process by acting as the source of contact for medical, investigative and legal services. A non-profit since 1994, Safe Passage has provided services to more than 43,000 child abuse victims and their non-offending caregivers.

Since its inception in 1984, the Empty Stocking Fund has generated more than $26 million through the generosity of individuals, families, civic organizations, businesses and foundations in the Pikes Peak region, Safe Passage among them.

With the assistance of supporters like the Empty Stocking Fund, Safe Passage provides forensic and healing services to El Paso and Teller County children who are abuse victims or violent crime witnesses, and their non-offending caregivers. Services include forensic interviews, forensic medical exams, victim advocacy and mental health services. Safe Passage and the ESF have been partners for three years.

“We were approached by the leadership of the ESF in 2022 with an invitation to join beginning in 2023. This is our third year being a part of the ESF,” Bowker said.

From July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025, Safe Passage served 860 child primary victims of abuse and 790 secondary victims (typically non-offending caregivers) for a total of 1,650 primary and secondary victims. Safe Passage services are free of charge.

“We are able to offer these services thanks to generous funding from grants, foundations, community donations and revenue from special events. Support from the ESF plays a vital role in helping us continue to offer these no-cost services. It strengthens our ability to explore and secure a diverse range of funding opportunities to sustain and expand our impact,” Bowker said.

Donations from the Empty Stocking Fund, general community donations, and support of grants and foundations assist Safe Passage in being able to respond to the need for free accessible mental health care for abuse victims.

At the end of 2024, Safe Passage successfully expanded its services to include an in-house Mental Health program to better meet the critical need for trauma-informed care for child abuse victims.

“The most rewarding part of the Empty Stocking Fund is joining together with the 19 other non-profits doing great work in our community to serve individuals and families in need in the Pikes Peak Region. It’s amazing to think about the reach we all have together in serving the most vulnerable of our community,” Bowker said.

According to Bowker, many nonprofit organizations are worthy of support. Through the ESF, public generosity supports 20 organizations in the community doing critical work for those in need, she said.

“We hope each year the amount donated to the fund will grow and we anticipate being a part of that growth by helping spread the word, participate in events related to the fund and sharing about the importance of giving,” Bowker said.