Please be thinking about even small ways you can impact human trafficking. I’ve listed some ideas that might put some wind in your sails!

  1. Set up a resource table at a community event, county fair, library, church or other location and have someone knowledgeable to answer questions about human trafficking in Iowa.
  2. Schedule or host a showing of the human trafficking in Iowa documentary, Gridshock at a church, school, library or community center. To secure this one-hour documentary about sex trafficking in Iowa, contact Melody at prairiemelody@gmail.com.
  3. Do a “Pop-Up” sign holding at a public location. In some places you may need permission for this. Youth and others can make signs from poster boards saying things like, “BE A MAN, STOP DEMAND!” “WORTH COUNTY STANDS AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING!” “ATTENTION HUMAN TRAFFICKERS, IOWA IS NOW YOUR FLY OVER ZONE!” “HUMAN TRAFFICKERS BEWARE: THERE IS A HIGH COST FOR SELLING SEX IN IOWA.” “HUMAN TRAFFICKERS; HOW DOES 25 YEARS TO LIFE SOUND??” “IOWA’S CHILDREN ARE NOT FOR SALE! End Trafficking NOW!”
  4. Host a Town Hall meeting to discuss ways that human trafficking is occurring here and how we can create stronger, safer communities. Invite your sheriff, mayor, police, and other community leaders.
  5. Visit businesses in your community and ask them if they are interested in no-cost human trafficking training for their employees offered through IBAT.
  6. Get copies of posters to post Blue Campaign, Iowa Network Against Human Trafficking (NAHT), or IBAT anti-trafficking signs, stickers and posters at various public locations. You can access NAHT posters and hotline stickers at https://iowanaht.org/iowa-brochures-and-posters/.
  7. Hold a fundraiser for a local program or nonprofit. Some of our programs who support HT survivors have closed down due to lack of funds and other resources.
  8. Volunteer at a local agency or program that serves survivors. There are usually many ways to get involved including mentoring, tutoring, and teaching life skills or hobbies. For a list and contact info for these services, go to https://iowanaht.org/resources/.
  9. Offer to donate a vehicle or a big ticket item for a survivor who is making their transition into the “square life.”
  10. Become educated! Start a discussion and/or prayer group on the topic of human trafficking. Your group could meet on a monthly basis maybe over lunch, coffee or dinner.
  11. Help us make connections by contacting people or groups you know who need HT training, or prevention education or would like us to do a presentation about this issue. Think businesses, educators, youth groups, churches, summer camps, schools, colleges, health care providers, EMT’s, law enforcement, social service agencies, service organizations or community clubs, daycare providers, foster kids and parents, etc.