Last week, 38 volunteers joined Met Council and SOAP (Save Our Adolescents from Prostitution) to raise awareness of human trafficking, the second fastest growing criminal industry in the U.S. Over 27 million people worldwide, including 2 million children are victims of human trafficking or modern-day slavery.
On Wednesday, volunteers sat for hours helping us label over 10,000 bars of soap with the National Human Trafficking Hotline and made over 50 folders of educational materials for distribution to hotels in Manhattan. The work was tedious, but they were committed to the cause.
Then on Thursday evening, over 30 volunteers joined us for an orientation led by Family Violence staff, Micol Rieger who works directly with victims of sex trafficking at Met Council. Volunteers were trained and prepared with materials and maps to head to hotels around Manhattan and spread the word on the issue and give out the free soaps.
Such an effort will increase our chances of reaching a victim who may come through the area with the thousands of other tourists pouring in for the Super Bowl. That cold evening, volunteers were successful in delivering 56 packets of Missing Children posters and info on "red flags" and well over 11,000 bars of soap. 11,000 more opportunities to reach someone in need and give them the resources they need.
We would like to share our thanks and appreciation to our staff and volunteers with which this campaign was possible. We look forward to hosting this event again in the spring as well so stay tuned for more information!
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