Amidst Pennsylvania’s serene landscapes and bustling cities, a newly-formed nonprofit organization has become a beacon of hope for those who have vanished into the shadowy ether of uncertainty.
Nestled in Quakertown, Bucks County, Voices, Hearts & Hands has taken up the mantle of reuniting Pennsylvania families torn apart and left in a void by disappearance.
With meticulous dedication, residents Jen Krauss and Alisia Real and their team of volunteers – including renowned missing persons investigator Kevin Ryan – not only verify and promote the search for missing persons, but also lend a steadfast hand in navigating the labyrinth of loss.
“Social media, and a few extra hands, make the process simple in the digital age,” said Krauss. “We work with law enforcement to verify information before posting it to the public, and we regularly check in with the family of the missing to provide support during their difficult time.”
It was the reaction in the wake of the late Elizabeth Capaldi’s disappearance (and subsequent murder) in October 2022 that drove Krauss and Real’s singular purpose: to find those who have vanished without a trace.
“Few people had heard about the situation, even those in her own neighborhood,” said Krauss. “When we rallied the community to help find her by consistently posting about it, and actively forming search parties, the idea for a nonprofit – Voices Hearts & Hands – was born.”
Each lead is accompanied by a promise of reunion. Each hour and every minute counts. Each missing person is another story interrupted, another family left in limbo, another community holding its breath.
“Time is crucial when someone goes missing. The police have limited time and resources to spread awareness when they are actively investigating,” Krauss said. “The community plays a large part by providing extra eyes out and about while carrying on with their everyday lives.”
Krauss said the community should call the police phone numbers listed on their missing persons’ flyers with any tips. Their flyers are posted on the group’s Facebook page, and to as many other public community groups on social media as possible.
“When we work on a case,” Krauss said, “our goal is to flood social media as much as possible with the face of the missing.”
The nonprofit, founded in August 2023, can also call upon Ryan, who, Krauss said, is on standby if a case warrants his involvement.
“He is a huge asset to our mission and we are learning a lot with his help,” Krauss said. “We have now successfully helped bring resolution to several local missing persons cases.”
For Voices, Hearts & Hands, it is not just a search; it is a relentless pursuit of hope and closure by guardians of light, illuminating the dark to those who may have slipped through the cracks of society.
“We hope to encourage both law enforcement and families to allow us to work with them to help spread awareness when time is of the essence on cases,” Krauss said. “Someone can’t be found if those around them don’t know that they are lost in the first place. That is part of the void that we hope Voices, Hearts & Hands can fill in the community.”
Contact the nonprofit at [email protected] and follow them on Facebook.
