When Community Meets Purpose: Women & Wine with Our Rescue

There are some evenings that stay with you, and our recent Women & Wine gathering was one of them.

I’m deeply grateful to Randy Larson, Hilde Cardenas and the Shinebox team for opening their beautiful Minneapolis office to us for this special event. Their excitement to welcome us downtown helped create such a warm, vibrant atmosphere, and our Women & Wine community was proud to add to the energy and buzz of the city.

I’m also so thankful to Janeen Vogelaar and Teresa Harlan from Our Rescue for co-hosting alongside Shinebox and for bringing such honesty, vulnerability, and courage to the evening. They shared the heartbreaking realities of sex trafficking and child exploitation in a way that was both deeply moving and incredibly educational.

Throughout the night, we learned myths and truths about sex trafficking, including the sobering reality that it is not a far-away issue, but one affecting communities everywhere. We also learned how Our Rescue supports law enforcement, survivor shelters, and community education while helping ICAC task forces investigate child exploitation cases.

What struck me most throughout the evening was the willingness of this community to lean into a difficult conversation. Rather than turning away from a hard topic, women and allies came together to listen, learn, ask thoughtful questions, and better understand how we can each play a role in protecting and supporting vulnerable individuals.

One of the most unforgettable highlights of the evening was Dotty, the black lab K9, and her live demonstration. Alongside Officer Brittany, Dotty

showed us how specially trained dogs can detect hidden electronic devices that may contain evidence connected to child exploitation cases. It was powerful, eye-opening, and something I know many of us will not forget.

As a special reminder of the evening, each attendee went home with a stuffed Dotty of their own. What may seem like a simple keepsake carries a much deeper meaning—a reminder of the incredible impact these specially trained dogs have in helping investigators uncover evidence, support survivors, and bring hope to difficult situations. Guests also had the opportunity to purchase a children's book featuring Dotty, which was "paw-tographed" by Dotty herself, bringing a bit of joy and lightheartedness to an otherwise serious topic.

Guests also had the opportunity to support survivors through the purchase of survivor-made products, providing another meaningful way to make an impact beyond the evening itself. These moments remind us that awareness is important, but action creates change.

I also want to thank our male allies who showed up, listened, learned, and donated. Your presence mattered. This kind of community is built when people are willing to come together, lean into hard conversations, and support meaningful change.

What continues to amaze me most about the Women & Wine community and the allies who support it, is how people continue to show up for one another with generosity, curiosity, and a genuine desire to make a difference. We welcomed new faces, deepened connections, and came together around a cause that matters. And true to form, this community responded with generosity in support of Our Rescue.

This evening embodied the values that have guided Women & Wine from the beginning: consistency, positivity, and vulnerability. When we create space for authentic conversations and meaningful connections, we also create opportunities to make a lasting impact together.

As we left that evening, we carried more than new connections; we carried greater awareness, deeper empathy, and a renewed commitment to make a difference.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, supported the mission, and contributed to such a meaningful evening. Because when women show up, we rise. And when allies join us, our impact grows even stronger.