The Valley Center Business Association (VCBA) had its annual fundraiser and awards banquet at the Bates Nut Farm. Beloved Fire Chief Joe Napier served as the MC of the two-hour partners meeting. Our own Joseph Travers, from Saved in America, spoke at the event as did Fred Wollman who is the president of the Valley Center Trails Association.

Awareness is Key 

Understanding the problem as it exists regarding sex trafficking within America’s borders is first and foremost. After all, many citizens, including those in leadership roles are vastly uneducated on the scope of the problem. They assume that human slavery is a thing of the past, something that should remain buried in the history books. While it would be ideal for slavery of every kind to be no more, it unfortunately isn’t true. In reality, human slavery in the form of human trafficking or sex trafficking is very much alive and thriving within our own borders even today. 

What The Numbers Say

Astoundingly, there are around 300,000 missing or exploited children at any given time in America. Of that number, some 100,000 of them will end up being taken into the sex trade industry and suffer a horrible fate. Of the kids who run away, around one in seven of them will become victims of traffickers. These traffickers— much like the slave traders of old— are responsible for taking these kids and then selling them into the industry where their most basic human rights, that of freedom and having a sense of self-worth is kept from them. Today’s traffickers, the predators that are all around us, are part of an evil triad in many cases, consisting of street gangs, drug cartels and prison gangs, all working together to make this criminal underbelly thrive. 

Saved in America is Fighting Back

Thankfully, our own organization, Saved in America, is fighting hard against these atrocities and attempting to rescue kids from this lifestyle or prevent them from getting taken in the first place. That is why speaking opportunities like the one bestowed upon Travers is so important and helpful as getting the word out, especially among community leaders, is vital for our efforts as well as other groups who are seeking to rescue children from this horrifying existence.