COLUMBUS- Cases reported of human trafficking in Ohio have skyrocketed— from 81 in 2012, to 365 cases reported in 2017, according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline.  

In Central Ohio, there is a nonprofit helping survivors find a way out.

With quality food, that truly is good for the soul, Freedom a la Cart is helping them build resumes and a future.

• Ohio has been ranked as high as fourth in the nation for sex trafficking
• Freedom a la Cart works to help survivors escape, recover and find employment
• The company has employed 59 survivors and helped 24 land jobs within the community

"Everyone has a unique story, but I think the commonalities are women in their early teens or early 20s when they are very vulnerable. A lot of them have been abused, sexually abused or physically abused as children. And someone comes in their lives and sees that vulnerability and can manipulate them into this lifestyle, most often using drugs as a coercion," said Paula Haines, executive director of Freedom a la Cart.

One of the survivors she works with is Melissa Toney, whose life changed at 18. 

"Knowing that my mom bar-tended at a strip club, I tried to go apply at a strip club and they told me I could work at the one she worked at. And that's when I started doing cocaine and ecstasy and it just took off from there," said Melissa Toney, Freedom a la Cart kitchen staff.

She says once she escalated to using crack, everything changed. 

"When I started hanging out in drug houses and stuff, and I was out of drugs, out of money, so then I had to figure out how to do it on my own. And so I was introduced to prostitution. As much as I hated it, I did it because I wanted to get high. And I would do anything to make all that guilt and shame go away," Toney said.

The cycle of guilt and addiction took over her life for 18 years.

"I disappeared for a very long time from my family, my friends. I was too ashamed to even walk back in the strip club because I had gone that low," said Toney.

She's had miscarriages, lost a baby soon after birth and lost custody of four other children. Toney credits her grandparents for helping her survive, but her trauma is something that will last a lifetime. 

"They obviously have some sexual abuse, most of them have been raped several times, they have been kicked and beaten and thrown out of cars, so they have traumatic brain injury a lot of them, PTSD, they have mental health issues, anxiety and depression that they're fighting, in addition to the struggles of addiction," said Haines.

Recovery is not easy. And with an empty resume and a criminal record, neither is finding a job.  

"The reason why I want to give up is because I don't feel good enough," said Toney. "People see soliciting, all they look at is a prostitute. They don't look at what you're doing right."

Freedom a la Cart had been helping women with support and resources, but they knew these women needed a job. So they bought a food cart on eBay and started selling sandwiches, with survivors as their staff.  

"You know, these women are worthy, and they're made to feel like they're not. And so everything that we can do to help them see their worth," said Haines.

That food cart has now grown to a full catering and boxed lunch business. 

"In the past three years, we've employed 59 survivors and 24 of those have transitioned into employment within the community," said Haines.

"I deliver orders to where they go and I help in the kitchen. I don't know where I'd be without them," Toney said.

Toney is now more than 2 years sober.

"Recovery has handed my whole life back," said Toney. "I dream that I get a GED. And I dream that I go to college."

Freedom a la Cart is much more than a job. It's helping give these survivors the freedom to dream, the freedom to be truly independent. 

"You know, they're earning their first paycheck. We're taking that to the bank and opening a checking and savings account with them. We're helping them save money for a car and helping them get their drivers license. We're moving them into independent housing. Furnishing that first house for them. And helping them take those next steps toward self-sufficiency," said Haines.

All because of delicious food— cause cuisine as they call it. Feeding central Ohio and helping those who have experienced unimaginable trauma realize they deserve to survive. 

"I'm getting better. I'm not healed. I never will be healed, but I want bigger and better things for myself today," said Toney.

Freedom a la Cart hopes to help even more survivors and have plans to open up a cafe.

They hope to do that in downtown Columbus later this year. 

There are a number of ways to support them— from ordering their food, to volunteering. 

And they have a big fundraising event in March called Eat Up! Columbus—with a six course meal prepared by a team of chefs.