RS Library Helps to Raise Awareness of Human Trafficking

Roaring Spring Community Library was joined by Victim Services at Family Services Inc. and the Blair County Human Anti-Trafficking Response Team for the Red Sand Project art installation to raise awareness about trafficking during the afternoon on Wednesday, July 31.

Those who attended the event filled the cracks in the sidewalks outside the library with red sand which represented victims of trafficking.

The grains of sand are to represent people who have fallen through the cracks of society," Ashley Gay-Vocco, Director of Victim Services at Family Services Inc., said.

She said they chose red sand because it occurs naturally and as there is no dye in it, there is no harm to ground.

Once the sand is poured into the cracks of the sidewalk, it will stay until it either washes or blows away.

The signs were made by the teen shelter in Altoona.

"They know that these teens face a lot of vulnerability and it is important to get that message out to that population," Gay-Vocco said.

She said awareness is important even in small communities.

"People don't know that it happens here," Gay-Vocco said.

Roaring Spring Community Library Director Michelle McIntyre agreed.

"A lot of people in our small rural area don't believe it happens here, it brings awareness to our community that it is happening in small rural communities," she said.

McIntyre said raising awareness is important because it might be enough to give someone the courage to say they need help.

"Our it could help someone identify themselves, maybe they don't have a word to it or they didn't know what it was," Gay-Vocco said.

She said many victims are so manipulated by their traffickers that they trust them, and become willing participants.

"They are manipulated, and then they are in it and then they are getting no more benefits," Gay-Vocco said.

It is hard to tell how common trafficking is in the area, but they have been seeing it more since 2018.

She said if someone finds themselves in the situation, they contact the library staff who will put them in touch with the victims services anonymous hotline.

"We are ready to help in a multitude of ways," Gay-Vocco said.

She said signs to watch for with people they know is if they don't have the means to buy themselves nice things and all the sudden have nails, jewelry, nice purses, talking about going on a nice date, or going on trips, or a new phone.

"You don't want to be accusatory right off the bat but start asking questions," she said.

McIntyre is grateful Family Services was able to come out to Roaring Spring.

"For an area outside of Altoona, sometimes we find it hard being able to spread awareness, and being able to share that we are a safe place for information," she said. "We would love to see this move to Tyrone, Martinsburg and all over Blair County."

McIntyre said wants people to be more comfortable talking about trafficking so that it diminishes.

"Since we don't know how much is going on in Blair County – if we get the word out that people are starting to watch, people might think twice before doing it to someone else," she said. "Awareness is the key."