TAT October 2020 Newsletter

Volume 11 | Issue 10

October 2020

Human trafficking in the news

Nearly 40 missing children rescued during Georgia sex trafficking bust

More than three dozen children are now safe after being rescued during a sex trafficking bust involving state and federal agents.

5 arrested for child sex trafficking in South Carolina, making child pornography

South Carolina prosecutors say they've arrested a group of suspects--including a husband and wife -- who they say were involved in child sex trafficking and making child pornography.

What we know about how child sex trafficking happens

What most people think they know about child sex trafficking generally involves stories – young girls and boys being kidnapped by strangers, forced into windowless vans, then driven to another city or state where they are kept drugged and chained in a brothel. While situations like these do exist, they are more of an exception than the rule. A study analyzing press releases and online media reports from over a nine-year period found that fewer than 10 percent of cases involved kidnapping. The rest were far more complicated, far less “Hollywood.”

Click here to read these articles on our website

TAT celebrates National Truck Driver Appreciation Week

Every September, the trucking industry celebrates National Truck Driver Appreciation Week. This year, with the intensified role truckers have played throughout the Covid-19 pandemic keeping grocery store shelves stocked, getting PPE supplies to needy healthcare workers and police and fire departments around the country and bringing goods of all kinds to homebound people ordering online, the gratitude for their work is even greater than normal.

TAT provided a week of donated giveaways to truckers on its Facebook page, with prizes including Camo Elite and Pro Combat Blue Tiger headsets, Tony Justice CDs, Motel 6 vouchers, TAT t-shirts and beanies and $25 gift cards for Subway and Visa.

In addition to their work keeping America moving, truckers have also been vigilant keeping an eye out for any human trafficking taking place, as can be seen in this story which occurred in the second quarter of 2020:

A truck driver contacted the hotline after being approached by a minor potential victim to engage in commercial sex. The driver gave the minor food and some money, asking if she needed help. She indicated she did not. The driver then observed the minor approach the potential trafficker, who pointed the girl in the direction of other trucks parked in the lot. The truck driver noted that the minor appeared to be afraid of the potential trafficker. The truck driver was still at the location; the hotline asked the driver to call 911 to see if they could send an officer to the location while the minor was still there. The driver confirmed with the hotline that law enforcement was going to send an officer. The hotline then followed up with reports to law enforcement contacts and CPS.

"This case illustrates the care and compassion drivers have for victims of human trafficking,” said Kendis Paris, TAT executive director. “This driver did everything possible to help this child. Sometimes it's going to work out well and a recovery will occur, and sometimes the fear of the trafficker and the coercive methods used prove too great. However, I imagine this victim will remember the humanity and kindness she was shown by this driver, and who knows how it may help lead to her recovery later on down the line. This story is such a testament to all the amazing truckers against trafficking out there ... keeping America moving and doing their part to help end the heinous crime of human trafficking. Thank you."

TAT to present online truck stop training event in October

Due to the importance of truck stop and travel plaza owners, managers and employees in the fight against human trafficking, Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) is offering a free, one-hour, live online training designed especially for them on Oct. 8, from 11 a.m.-noon (CST). This virtual training includes:

Dispelling myths of human trafficking
Intersections between the truck stop/travel plaza industry and human trafficking
Human trafficking survivor presentation by a TAT Training Specialist
How to take a victim-centered approach
Action steps for being part of the solution

“TAT has been working with the truck stop and travel plaza industry for many years, seeking to engage management through training opportunities at the Coalition Builds (CB) and by encouraging them to use TAT training for all employees,” said Esther Goetsch, CB director. “We have built some strong partnerships in this industry over the years but have always struggled to reach the thousands of independently owned or regionally owned and operated locations. People in this industry work long, hard hours and have difficulty getting away from their stores to attend an in-person training. We believe this training will fill that gap, and you can register for it here.”

This month, the CB team has scheduled five events:

Oct. 1 -- Louie Greek presents to the Central Missouri Human Trafficking Task Force

Oct. 8 -- Louie Greek and Annika Huff, TAT training specialists, present at the TAT virtual truck stop and travel plaza training event

Oct. 20 -- Esther Goetsch, CB director, presents at Infinity, the League to Aid Abused Children and Adults

Oct. 22 -- TAT team presents at the Alabama virtual Coalition Build

Oct. 28 -- Ashley Smith, TAT director of Energy Operations, presents at the New Mexico virtual Coalition Build

UPS drivers make video spreading the word about TAT

A group of UPS drivers are going the extra mile to encourage their coworkers to learn more about human trafficking and TAT. And it’s working! In three weeks’ time, their video has been viewed by almost 400 people.

Spearheaded by Paul Barnes of UPS CACH and Wayne Ponschke, UPS Southern California District, the group, composed additionally of Jim Alvarez of UPS CACH, Titus Wamai of UPS Wisconsin, Ryan Ybarra of UPS Ontario and Marcy Drake of UPS CACH Arizona, created a video, among other measures, to bring greater “awareness of a global issue not typically seen by everyday drivers,” Ponschke explained. “The more people we can get to recognize the signs of human/sex trafficking, the more lives we can save.”

Additionally, the drivers brainstormed and worked together to:

Create a Wall of Fame TAT Certification Board, a bulletin board with flyers, cards, and brochures and whiteboard signage with pamphlets, flyers, cards, and goodie bags
Tweet training info and recognize newly certified members on social media
Make starter kits for anyone interested in human trafficking training
Place info at rest stops and truck stops
Make goodie bags that included TAT info and wallet cards
Place a wallet card in 250 package delivery vehicles
Place posters in locker rooms, break rooms and rest rooms
Have one-on-one discussions with fellow drivers, colleagues, and friends

These measures are up and running at UPS Southern California District, but other locations are following suit.

“It’s an issue happening right in front of us, and we all need to be able to recognize the signs of this worldwide atrocity,” said Barnes.

“When drivers become personally invested in this battle, we find their energy is contagious. We love the ways in which UPS drivers are raising awareness among their coworkers and circles of influence,” said Helen Hofer, Freedom Drivers Project director.

Quality Distribution, Inc. expands TAT partnership

with payroll deduction option for employees

Quality Distribution, Inc. (QDI) and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Quality Carriers (QC) and Boasso Global, are long-time partners of Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT), through corporate sponsorships and donating hauls to the Freedom Drivers Project. In 2020, QDI took its partnership to the next level by providing employees with an opportunity to contribute directly to TAT via payroll deductions.

“We give to several charities throughout the year, but we wanted to find a charity that aligned with our industry to unite behind as a company,” explained Melissa Ernst, senior vice president of Human Resources and Driver Services for QDI. “In 2019, we invited TAT to speak at our locations with the largest number of employees on-site. We were deeply affected by TAT’s presentation and the stories we heard and wanted to do more to help. In our annual benefits open enrollment process for 2020, we included a voluntary election, allowing employees to contribute to TAT through payroll deductions. Employees have the opportunity to change or stop their election at any time. We also provide this opportunity to contribute to every new employee who joins our organization.

“After TAT spoke in 2019,” Ernst continued, “many of our employees commented that they were pleased the company is involved with an organization like TAT. From time to time, TAT will ask for QDI employee volunteers to help staff different events, and we always see a number of our employees eager to participate. That’s the power of TAT’s mission and story. It’s impactful on employees, and they deeply appreciate the opportunity to be involved and make a difference.”

QDI looks forward to continuing its partnership with TAT.

Thank you to our copper level and above individual donors!

Diamond:

Anonymous

Platinum:

Douglas Kegler

Gold:

Michael Horton, Jonathan and Jill Lim, Bob Paris, Andy and Karin Larsen

Silver:

Lou and Ronda Leeburg, Scott and Terry Koch, Grinnell Family

Bronze:

Scott Perry, Mark and Julie Mihevc, Anna McCoy, Linda Burtwistle

Copper:

George Cravens, Patti Gillette, Craig Kaplan, John McKown, Mr and Mrs Matty Moroun, Kevin and Michele Kalczynski, Rich McArdle, Anne Moroun, Ken Johnson, Mike and Karen Kuykendall, Sarah Roark, Eric and Sarah Jorgensen, Matthew Bleach