The Zonta Club of Warren and the Warren County Children’s Advocacy Center recently began the Red Sand Project, an effort to raise awareness of human trafficking, modern slavery and exploitation. Launched by Molly Gochman in 2014 the Red Sand Project is a way for communities to come together and connect, raising awareness about human trafficking, modern slavery, and exploitation.

Pouring the red sand in sidewalk cracks highlights how people are vulnerable to exploitation.

Melissa McLean, executive director of Warren County Children’s Advocacy Center, said, “as each grain of sand lands let us be reminded of those individuals who fall through the cracks of social, economic, and political systems, or our own personal consciousness.”

Tammy Bimber, co-chair of the Advocacy Committee for Zonta stated “this is occuring in our own neighborhoods.”

Pictured are members of Zonta and Warren County Children's Advocacy Center kicking off the Red Sand Project with a ceremony at the Healing Garden at Crescent Park recently.

She said Pennsylvania is ranked 11th in volume of calls to the National Trafficking Hotline.

McLean shared encouraging words as the many attendees dispersed around the garden to fill cracks with red sand.

“We take for granted hope. As people who live in this world and in the day to day, we find hope is something we strive for. For those trapped in the world of abuse and exploitation each day is a struggle to find hope, each day is a struggle to believe in hope, just to make it through one more day of unimaginable abuse and endure one more endless night of pain.

STheirs is a battle held in the shadows and this month we bring light into the shadows.”

Zonta and the Warren County Children’s Advocacy Center invite the community to participate in the Red Sand Project with friends or family, with a team, business, or organization, as a youth group or community group, or in the classroom.

Shown in this photo are members of Zonta gathering for a work bee at the Healing Garden in Warren recently. Clean up and weeding was done in preparation for the Red Sand Project ceremony that they held in collaboration with the Warren County Children’s Advocacy Center.

To participate, contact the Warren County Advocacy Center at director@warrencac.org.