PARK CITY (ABC 4 News) – Women and children who have fled a polygamist lifestyle are seeking refuge in an organization aimed at helping them assimilate into mainstream culture.
The organization, founded in 2008, is called Holding Out Help – Helping Encouraging and Loving Polygamists.
According to Director Tonia Tewell, the organization provides resources and guidance for those desiring to leave their polygamist communities. The group provides safe houses, food, clothing, counseling, mentoring, job training, education and referral services for women and children trying to assimilate in a foreign world.
A fundraising event held Friday was attended by over 100 people.
Sam Brower, a private investigator who contributed greatly to the government’s case against FLDS Leader Warren Jeffs, said the purpose of the organization is to let people know that abusing children is not okay.
Jon Krakauer wrote a book on polygamy and took in a child from the FLDS Church.
“It’s a growing problem,” Krakauer said. “To be taken out of a 19th century lifestyle and plunged into a different world is a huge challenge.”
A handful of young adults who escaped polygamy said their lives are forever changed because of Holding Out Help.
Joe Broadbent, 23, escaped an FLDS community six years ago and found refuge in Holding Out Help.
“Without them, I don’t know if things would be where they are now,” Broadbent said. “There’s so much good out in the world.”
The organization will hold a silent auction and dinner on Saturday, March 3, 2011. For more details, visit www.holdingouthelp.org
