Missouri Girls Town
Have you heard of it? I grew up in the heart of Mid-Missouri, just over 20 miles from their campus, and still the first time even heard the name I was well into my 30s. Honestly, the goal would be for no girls to ever have to learn about MGT or be in need of their services, amazing staff and facilities but that's just not the reality.
When I went out to create image for MGT early this summer it was not my first time on campus but it was my first deep dive into campus. It was my first look behind the veil. I'd been a part of what most of the public gets to see of MGT on multiple occasions. I've gotten to photograph, donate to and attend their fundraisers like Happy Hour for Hope and their Patron's breakfast. I'd heard stories from staff and past residents that offered a glimpse into the experiences of the girls of MGT. I'd gotten to step into their campus lobby and beautiful grounds to photograph their staff and some graduating senior girls but until this summer I hadn't truly gotten to know MGT.
This year, I offered to dive deeper. I wanted to find a way to expand the voice of the girls of MGT without needing their faces. For one, they've been through enough and the girls there right now in this moment are on their own battle fields. They don't need to be the poster-children to expand the cause and services for the girls to come. But how, then, do we introduce MGT and the deep need they have of our support? How do we share the truth so that the girls lucky enough to never have to learn about MGT in their youth don't become women, like me, who don't know what they don't know. Who don't know that there are girls who have faced more horrors than we'll ever know and have endured more than any human should. Who are just eight, ten, sixteen.... who have become the forgotten and discarded and are fighting back to have a chance at wholeness.
The amazing executive director of MGT, Jenny Preiss, would tell you the 'behaviors' of these girls are not about rebellion or being 'difficult' but are deep seeded trauma from actions of those meant to love, protect and raise them but who instead tore them apart. These girls aren't difficult, they're devastated. And MGT is here to make sure they aren't left behind.
I hope you'll learn more
Not knowing about Missouri Girls Town is easy. But I hope you'll choose to take a closer look, to meet and see the faces of the staff who are caring for and standing steady for these girls, our Missouri girls. I hope you'll learn more about what services MGT offers and how even $100 can help support the transition & healing for these girls and help them start in the right direction to give them a chance at a whole and happy future.
I'm glad you haven't gotten to know MGT yet, that you weren't introduced to them when dropped off behind gates with a trashbag of a few items of your own. But now, it's time to get to know MGT so we can make sure the girls that walk in hurt can walk out happy and healthy. These are OUR girls, Missouri.
Donations
Did you know?
You can donate items to MGT like stuffies in good condition to be given to the girls upon arrival (this little triceratops used to be my little one's and it warmed my heart to see her front and center on this bed when I arrived).
MGT also has an Amazon wish list. Take a look at the items the girls routinely need (personal hygiene, school supplies, etc).
