January 11th was National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.

And you can do something for the thousands of men, women, and children who are forced into labor or the commercial sex industry.

Your $2 today will cover the cost of emergency supplies for a survivor of human trafficking, someone rescued by the Polaris Project. 

The Polaris Project deals with human trafficking in the US from top to bottom: they promote anti-trafficking laws across the country, and they also provide services directly to human trafficking victims.

“When we started, four states had anti-trafficking laws. Today, laws are in place in 48 states and DC,” says  Director of Development Janice Cori. “Human trafficking is one of the fastest growing criminal industries, but in America we have the ability to completely eradicate it.”

One of their most crucial services is a human trafficking hotline, where victims can call in for help or every-day citizens can report a tip about trafficking in their communities.  

“People are surprised this is happening in the US, but human trafficking takes place in big cities and small towns alike,” says Janice Cori, Polaris Project’s Director of Development.  

And Polaris Project has the data to prove it: since starting the hotline 4 years ago, they have fielded 44,000 calls, coming from every state in the country.

Once a tip is proven to be credible, the Polaris Project helps transfer that information to local police forces and anti-trafficking groups to organize a rescue.  They then connect the victim to local resources or provide direct services of their own, such as helping with healthcare, housing, and legal services. 

That's where your donation comes in. 

"In many cases, these victims have nothing except the clothes on their back," says Cort. "We provide basic supplies based on their needs (clothing, food, hygiene packet, emergency shelter). These victims often become our long-term clients."