WILMINGTON -- This weekend hundreds of people from around the country will attend the National Missing Persons Conference.  

For mother Christy Davis, who is still searching for her son 11 years later, she is helping other families going through the fears she has battled 

“Nothing prepares you in your life for having a missing loved one," says Davis. 

Davis, who is from Jacksonville, Florida believes these conferences can be therapeutic because everyone knows how you are feeling.

"We laugh together, we cry together, we tell stories and we can share things about our loved ones that the public doesn't understand the need," mentions Davis

“The number of missing people is just a silent cry out constantly that there’s just more and more,” says founder of the CUE Center for Missing Persons Monica Caison, 

In its 14th year, the National Missing Persons Conference creates an opportunity for advocates and volunteers to learn more about topics such as the identification process for the lost. 

The Wilmington based center hosts the conference so those who attend can share information on the latest equipment and exchange new ideas to help families still searching for loved ones. 

“You’ve got K-9’s that work on water and land and air scent. There’s just so many different sectors out there as far as the training and reaching out and building those resources is what we continually do,” mentions Caison.

As for Davis, this is a chance for her to also help families whose loved ones fall under the growing statistics of missing people. 

“Whether dead of alive, you want them brought home. You want to lay them to rest. You want to feel like you know at least where they are, where their physical presence is,” says Davis.

Organizers will host a public candlelight vigil at the River Front Park at 8:00 p.m.