Abby Hoover
Managing Editor

Relentless Pursuit Outreach & Recovery (RPOR), which has operated Christine’s Place since the drop-in center opened at 5108 Independence Avenue in December 2020, announced last week that the center will now be called The RPOR Drop-In Center.

RPOR fights human trafficking and exploitation.

“This year has brought incredible momentum in our efforts of partnering with law enforcement to reduce demand, the securing of grant monies to advance our rehabilitation of our property on Independence avenue, and the continual increase of trafficking survivors served at our Drop-In Center,” RPOR Founder Lee Gibson said in a letter to board members, donors and supporters.

As awareness of and engagement in the organization grows with donors, church partners, law enforcement agencies, and volunteers, Gibson said it has become clear that they have to provide clarity to the name for the Drop-In Center.

“In the early days of our organization, we sought to acknowledge and appreciate Christine McDonald, a renowned survivor of human trafficking and political advocate, by naming our Drop-In Center Christine’s Place,” Gibson said. “This facility has been used since December 2020 to provide practical relief and support of trafficking survivors living in the Northeast neighborhood of Kansas City, the location where Christine MacDonald was exploited years ago.”

While forming partnerships, presenting at churches, and having conversations with prospective donors, Gibson said RPOR realized there was confusion on whether RPOR has any connection to Christine’s Place and vice versa.

“With this ongoing and increasing reality, it has become clear to us that we need to bring clarity to this confusion by making a name change of the Drop-In Center,” Gibson said. “Therefore, effective November 7, 2022, Christine’s Place will now be simply the RPOR Drop-In Center.”

The Drop-In Center has functioned from day one as an expression of the “outreach” arm of RPOR, and was in no way a separate ministry outreach of McDonald, personally, the letter clarified.

“Though Ms. McDonald has generously served RPOR’s Drop-In Center on many occasions by training volunteers and engaging survivors with loving compassion when she was able to be there, she never exercised or was given authority over the Drop-In Center,” Gibson said.

This name change is in no way meant to diminish the influence of McDonald, as she continues this fight against human exploitation from her lane of education and political activism, Gibson said. However, they believe the name “RPOR Drop-In Center” will bring much greater clarity to all present and future partners of RPOR as they seek to give to and serve our organization.

The RPOR Drop-In Center is a safe, non-judgmental place for prostituted women from all backgrounds and races. They offer solutions to basic needs, career help, healthcare, and meet lifestyle needs.

In 2021, the Drop-In Center had 4,558 visits from 341 visitors. They gave 42 shelter referrals, 27 rehab referrals, 354 medical checks, 51 ID assists, and had 395 caseworker visits.

Its hours of operation are Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with full services, and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with bible study, donuts and juice.

More information about the RPOR Drop-In Center and the organization that operates it can be found at rpor.org.