Atlantic Cares for Rethreaded

Rethreaded came from an idea by founder Kristin Keen to help survivors of human trafficking she met on the street and in prison visits. She knew there was a significant need for a safe, supportive work environment where women could earn money while learning skills and healing. Rethreaded hired its first full-time employee in November 2012. 

Rethreaded has several departments, the main ones being a textile department making items like purses and a culinary department, which makes toffees and other candies. There is survival development programming and a wide variety of holistic training like dressing for success, time management and critical thinking. 

“We believe time is important,” said marketing manager Abigail Haskell. “Most programs are only a few months, but ours is three to five years. It’s a launching point to go into the world equipped to break generational cycles of trauma and for [survivors to] live out their purpose in the world.” 

Since its founding, Rethreaded has employed 105 survivors of human trafficking and provided more than 200,000 hours of work for survivors. In the last year, the company has provided 76 training classes, totalling 93 hours of training per person. There’s also care management workers available to help with everything from doctors’ appointments to coordinating housing and childcare. 

While participants in Rethreaded’s programs are protected by anonymity, accomplishments from members include celebrating sobriety, buying a car, paying off debt, getting a driver’s license and qualifying for an unsecured credit card.

Most people, Haskell said, find Rethreaded through friends and relationships in the city. There’s a waiting list to get into a Rethreaded program, and one hiring cycle a year. Rethreaded’s funding is made up of 60 percent donations and 40 percent product sales. 

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“It’s delicious and everyone likes it,” Haskell said. “We also make products out of upcycled materials like donated leather airline seats, upcycled t-shirts, dog toys, gray scarves and a whole host of other products. We also carry products we don’t make but are from similar companies. When you walk into our store, you’ll find 4,000 survivors being represented.” 

Haskell said she would like people to know human trafficking in reality is not the portrayal often seen in movies. Only 5% of those who have survived human trafficking have been kidnapped and moved, she said. Most of the time, they’re people in the local community someone has exploited. 

According to the number of calls made to the human trafficking crisis hotline, Florida is No. 3 in the nation for reported cases of human trafficking and Jacksonville is third in the state of Florida for reported cases of human trafficking. Human trafficking generates $172 billion annually. 

“I think a lot of people think it’s a far away problem and it doesn’t happen here,” Haskell said. “Our thing is, it is happening here, and to people in our neighborhood.”

One of the main ways Rethreaded spreads its message is through community events, like the Women Empowering Women networking group and workshop, as well as the annual Mukti Gala, Rethreaded’s largest fundraiser, scheduled for January 2026. 

“A lot of it is talking and paving the way for next survivors to come through our doors, celebrate with our community and spread hope about the work we’re accomplishing and the lives that are being changed,” Haskell said. 

In 2025, Rethreaded launched a new section of the business, Rethreaded Rags, which makes high-quality upcycled industrial rags from donated T-shirts. This program addresses a waste issue while also creating more job opportunities for survivors. With additional donations in 2026, Rethreaded can expand its programming. 

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ABOUT ATLANTIC LOGISTICS

‍Atlantic Logistics provides expedited truckload and partial service on flatbeds, stepdecks, lowbeds, vans, and reefers throughout the United States and Canada. Moving over-dimensional/over-weight freight with specialized equipment, Atlantic Logistics is an approved Department of Defense and General Services Administration broker, qualify as a woman-owned business, and are members of the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA), GrowFL (GrowFL), First Coast Manufacturers Association (FCMA), the Transportation Marketing & Sales Association (TMSA), Women in Trucking (WiT), Laredo Motor Carriers Association (LMCA) and the National Defense Transportation Association (NDTA).

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