Here’s some incredible news. Over 62,000 missing children were found in the United States last year. They were lost, their whereabouts unknown, their safety uncertain. But the joy of their rescue reveals deeper evil and comes with more tremendous challenges.
When authorities located these kids, far too many were discovered in situations no child should ever endure. Many were trapped in domestic servitude, locked in homes where they cooked, cleaned, and existed only to serve. And many, heartbreakingly many, were funneled into sex trafficking rings, bought and sold by criminals who saw vulnerable children as commodities.
These weren't kids who got lost. They were taken. Exploited. Hidden in plain sight while traffickers profited from their suffering.
Trafficking networks increasingly rely on sophisticated deception and control tactics that make detection difficult for both victims and authorities. Our recent operations in Peru uncovered victims holding falsified identification documents designed to disguise the ages of minors, while others were told they owed fabricated debts that could only be repaid through exploitation. In one rural operation, authorities found a facility hidden behind an 18-foot metal wall where surveillance cameras monitored victims constantly, private phones were banned, and armed guards searched clients for recording devices. The systematic nature of these operations demonstrates why coordinated international law enforcement response has become essential.
Rescue operations represent only the first step in a long recovery process for trafficking survivors who face trauma, displacement, and uncertain futures. Organizations supporting these missions work to provide aftercare and trauma-informed support as victims begin rebuilding their lives after exploitation. So many of the 80+ victims we helped rescue in 2025 shared stories of being promised legitimate employment opportunities, only to find themselves isolated from family, stripped of identification documents, and controlled through threats of violence. Many had traveled internationally seeking better economic prospects, making them particularly vulnerable to traffickers who exploit desperation and hope.
The rescued kids represent both a tragedy and a warning: if so many were lost right here in America, what about the others? Some estimates say 240,000 children are still missing, enduring the same horrors, At Aerial Recovery, we refuse to accept this atrocity. We don't believe these kids are expendable. And we refuse to let traffickers operate with impunity while children suffer.
240,000 children. That number haunts us. Each one is an individual life, a kid with a name, story, dreams, and families who love them. They are 240,000 reasons why this work cannot wait. Our Humanitarian Special Operators, retired military personnel with the skills, experience, and courage for this fight, are working day and night to gather intelligence and support law enforcement in high-risk rescue operations.
We will fight to rescue every single kid. Finding them all won't happen without you. We need your help to fund:
✓ Intelligence networks that can track trafficking operations across borders
✓ Partnerships with law enforcement agencies committed to aggressive action
✓ Trained personnel willing to go undercover into dangerous situations
✓ Technology and equipment that gives investigators the advantage
✓ Aftercare resources for survivors who deserve support
This mission requires organizations like Aerial Recovery that treat this as the urgent humanitarian crisis it is. And it takes people like you who believe these children's lives are worth fighting for.
As we begin 2026, we're planning operations to directly target the networks trafficking children everywhere. We're expanding partnerships with international law enforcement. We're training additional personnel. We're investing in the intelligence capabilities that locate victims and build cases against traffickers.
But this work is only possible because of people who refuse to look away.
Let's boldly declare that missing children will not be forgotten. Your tax-deductible contribution will kick this year off strong and support rescue operations in 2026.
The calendar has turned, but our mission continues because 240,000 kids are counting on people like you to fight for them.
