01/17/2018

Making an impact on human trafficking in Zanesville

My name is Waynette Bridwell and I live in Zanesville, Ohio. I learned about the Human Trafficking problem in Ohio at a retired nurses meeting held at the Ohio Nurses Association in 2014. I joined MERRC (Mideast Ohio Rescue and Restore Coalition) afterward. Then I heard about a Task Force on Human Trafficking being formed at the synod level of my church and was invited to serve on it.  At present I serve in both groups.  

It’s been my concern that so few people seem to know about human trafficking, so I have begun to speak to women’s groups, schools, our church and even at a university class! A great resource for me has been the Shared Hope International DVD.              

As a task force, we were able to put up three billboards in Southeastern Ohio for two months. The area targeted was the 77/70 interchange near Cambridge. They were placed south of I70 and east of I77. I thought one would be really great, but that we could have three (it was a package deal), was unbelievable to me. There was a picture of a young girl on them with the words (SOLD FOR SEX) and “Human Trafficking Happens Here Too” with the national phone number 1-888-3737-888 & the text number 233733. We (you) don’t have to be right to make the call if you are concerned or suspicious with what you see.

Finally, I am seeing some fruits of the process and am also working with wonderful people. There is hope! A grant from the Deaconess Community was a huge help in getting the “word” spread recently with our workshop in Columbus and putting up the billboards.

If you are interested in learning more about human trafficking in Ohio and what you can do to stop it, watch the synod website for workshops and seminars and consider attending the upcoming synod assembly, June 1-2, where you can participate in a human trafficking awareness and prevention workshop hosted by the SOS WELCA Task Force.