A Safe Place
St James’ Vestry recently voted to approve a local 501(c)(3) charity known as A SAFE PLACE (ASP) as an outreach project for the parish and awarded $5,000 to aid ASP in youth education to prevent young adults from becoming victims of human trafficking.
Human trafficking is a significant ongoing global problem. You might think that it is surely not happening here in Wilmington—but, sadly, it is. Wilmington and the surrounding areas have a serious problem with human trafficking, particularly sex trafficking.
ASP has been working to help victims of human trafficking in this area since 2012. The mission of ASP is to be “an empowerment organization focusing on prevention, advocacy, and restoration to assist victims of sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.” The group works with local and federal law enforcement to identify victims and also actively seeks out victims through a variety of ways including, among others, jail visits, billboard advertising, hotline, online outreach and referrals. ASP provides substance abuse counseling on site and runs an emergency shelter for trafficking victims and their children as well as providing many other services including prevention education.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Tanner Dodson is leading the outreach effort for St. James and would be happy to answer any questions you may have. Please feel free to contact her at tanne
OPPORTUNITY FOR ST. JAMES PARISH
SJP has a tremendous opportunity to change lives in our community by providing financial and volunteer support for ASP. With our support, we can increase the number of:
(1)young people who are prevented from falling into the trap of human traffickers,
(2)victims whom ASP can support at their emergency shelter and their Outreach Center,
(3)victims and their children whose basic daily needs are met, and
(4)parishioners working in the community with others of all faiths for the common good of the victims and their children to enable them to lead normal, independent lives.
SPECIFIC VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
We are looking for volunteers to help with a variety of tasks. Some of the ways St James’ parishioners and others can help include:
1.Providing lunch for 12-15 people one Wednesday a month. ASP provides a weekly lunch as an outreach to victims and we would like to commit to filling at least one of those slots each month. This is an immediate need that ASP has. We would like to use the SJP Meal Train link to enable signup. ASP Meal Train link is https://mealtrain.com/
2.Offering periodic cleanup and painting services through the “Men on a Mission” (MOM) group (MOM already held one work day at the shelter this spring.)
3.Preparing welcome/emergency bags for children and adults on the streets and/or entering the shelter. Current needs are provided on ASP Amazon wish list at the links provided below:
https://smile.amazon.com/hz/
Emergency Bags: https://smile.amazon.
Shelter Needs: https://smile.amazon.com/hz/
4.Offering other opportunities such as teaching a Zoom cooking class (most victims cannot cook), basic sewing lessons, offering childcare, or offering transportation.
5.Teaching self defense
Interim Children's Ministries Coordinator
Vestry - Class of 2025, Liaison to the Buildings & Grounds Committee, the Outreach Commission, and Youth/Young Adult Committee
