Rachel McBride

December 2025 Issue

by Mary Hope Roseneau
Photography by
Cassidy Dunn Photography

 

The young couple who came to meet me were right on time. Rachel McBride is the founder of “The Helianthus Project,” and along with her husband, they describe their organization as God’s Non-Profit and Advocacy, Latina (she’s from Texas) and Veteran (USMC) founded.

The word “Helianthus” is Greek for the sunflower plant. “The Helianthus, aka the sunflower, represents Truth, Strength, and Light. It’s unique in that it can grow and blossom in the face of the harshest environments. Regardless of where the seed has been cast, the Helianthus rises from the dirt, its face always towards the sun. In the moments it cannot find the sun, it looks to its neighbor, both of them providing light for each other until they can find the sun again.”

Rachel explained, “There are three pillars that make up this organization. Our education, advocacy and healing.” Education includes free training on the difficult subject of human trafficking, especially involving children. She is open to speaking to churches, civic groups, and any community group wanting to learn more about this horrific, but very real, problem. She has given more than 800 hours of free training.

She recently spoke to the “100 Women Who Care” group that meets in Beaufort monthly awarding grants to worthy causes at each meeting. Several groups come to present their mission, and then the “100 Women” vote on which one to support for the month. Rachel’s presentation was the winning submission recently, where The Helianthus Project was given $12,000 from this group.

Advocacy, the second pillar, is “Helios Recovery, our boots on the ground help for victims, assisting them with basic needs, housing, transportation, and so on.” Many victims escape from their captors with only the shirt on their back and have many needs, such as clothing, school supplies, haircuts, and medical treatment.

Inspired by the Queen, Esther, in the Bible, the third pillar is based on a dream Rachel has of opening a home for victims to live safely. Esther was told by her uncle that she needed to be strong because God was using her in a difficult situation to save her people. “Perhaps you were born for such a time as this,” —Esther 4:14.

The proposed home would provide housing for girls ages 12-18 and be staffed by trained, compassionate people. The girls would receive homeschooling, transportation to medical appointments, shopping, meals and fun outings. They would learn life skills, like cooking, cleaning, washing clothes, all the normal things that children learn when they grow up in a normal home. Rachel’s goal is to open this home, Esther’s House, in July 2026.

Rachel’s story starts with growing up on a ranch in Texas. Her grandparents were immigrants from Mexico, who believed in hard work. She and her three sisters were homeschooled and worked most days on the ranch from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Their reward at the end of the each day, when they had “done good”, was to “crack open an ice-cold Coca-Cola.” Her memories of her childhood with wonderful parents influence Rachel’s life today and play a role in her community spirit to work hard helping people.

However, a bad choice in her teen years led to Rachel being victimized for several years by a boyfriend until she was able to escape him and the abuse. She returned home to her parents and was blessed by God to later meet her husband online. He was on deployment, and they talked to one another for a long time until he was able to come to Texas and meet her and the family in person. The family approved and they married. They have common goals, hearts for service and now they also have three children.

They moved to California, and still remembering her days with her abuser, Rachel became a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), to speak for children, infants to 5 years old, in court hearings, similar to the Guardian ad Litum program in S.C.

She knew this was her calling, and to “clear out the static” of the world, she took two weeks to fast and pray to seek God’s will for her life. She didn’t know where to begin, but she trusted God to put the puzzle pieces together.

She knew she wanted to offer trafficked children a hand up, not a handout. She also knew she needed partners and businesses who felt led to support the project and serve as “hands and feet” for the organization. The Helianthus Project was launched in 2021.

There is a lot of misunderstanding about human trafficking, as well as a universal reaction of “no, not here!” Rachel has facts and figures about the problem and has made connections with the Child Abuse Prevention Advocates (CAPA) and Hopeful Horizons, who have similar outreach programs.
“These survivors grow despite the harsh environments they were subjected to. We strive to help them along their journey, and should a day come when they struggle to find the sun, we are there. We are there to reflect the light in their souls; we are there to remind them of their strength, and we are there to show them the beautiful truth of who they are.”

Rachel, her team of supporters and volunteers, and The Helianthus Project, as a whole, embody the mantra “Be the Difference,” which changes everything for our community and those precious lives they touch.

Up Close:
• According to S.C. Law Enforcement, there were 394 victims of human trafficking in S.C. last year, and 315 of them were under 18. In S.C., there are only 10 beds available for long-term recovery statewide. Many of these children have no place to go and are at risk for further abuse.

• The Esther House’s goal is to raise $120,000 by June 2026. Current donations are $23,314. Check out The Helianthus Project Facebook page for more information and consider supporting them with your time, talents and/or donations.

• Battle of the Beards—Get behind Conner, the Power Washing Man, for this one-of-a-kind annual Lowcountry event. Special warriors are chosen to join Esther’s Clan and compete to raise the most money. The winner earns a place in history, while the vanquished shave their beards in front of their clan and comrades! Nominate yourself or a fellow bearded warrior for the 2026 Battle of the Beards… if you have the courage of a true shield bearer!