Month after month you read here about the initiatives of End Slavery Tennessee. Hopefully you find encouragement and inspiration in seeing  the many effective ways our volunteers engage in preventing human trafficking and identifying and aiding local victims.

We've come a long way and have a long way to go. We have great ideas based on our own experience and on understanding gleaned from an experienced network of people throughout the country; the only things lacking are people and resources.

So this month, we're deviating from our usual format, to share ways that YOU - churches, businesses, and individuals -  can move forward the creation of a slave-free Tennessee. It is our prayer that some of you will hear the call and make the move from compassion... to action.

Together with you,

Businesses

·Hang hotline posters in your establishment.  

· Bring in End Slavery trainers to educate members of your profession to recognize and aid victims. Request a trainer here. 

 · Be sure to use slave-free goods in your supply chains. For information about freely made goods, please visit the International Labour Organization, Chain Store Reaction , and Free2Work.

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. Donate a portion of your profits to End Slavery TN. (Example: 10% of sales from fair trade coffee or chocolate.)    

· Sponsor a Ride for Refuge team or individual rider.  

· Donate goods, services or the time and skills of your employees (printing, graphic design, web design, paper, toner, American or Southwest Miles, tri-fold display boards) or office space. 

Individuals

·  Join the volunteer group nearest you. Synergy is created as we share ideas and pool our skills and networks.  

· Participate in the Ride for Refuge. Be a bike rider, team captain and /or solicit sponsors. See the red links in the Ride for Refuge box here.

· Donate. All this work takes resources to carry them out. Please consider giving whatever you can on a monthly basis, so we have reliable funds.   

Current specific needs include:

1. Licensed counselors: Facilitate a prevention program, working with the area's most vulnerable girls to empower them to avoid becoming the next victims.

2. Graphic designer: Create a door hanger to be used in community campaigns. Volunteers will hang these on doors in targeted neighborhoods. They'll contain information about human trafficking and the hotline help number.

3. Project Manager: Buy books/media and distribute to libraries (universities, churches, High Schools.)  We have the funds-you just need to do the work!

4. Party Hosts:  Contact Kathryn to sign up for a home party; an easy way to open the eyes of your friends to the issue of slavery while having a good time together and purchasing items made by rescued slaves or those at high risk of enslavement.  

5. Victim Emergency Fundraiser: Develop and carry out a plan to keep our emergency fund for victims replenished. It's great that we have a lot of victims being rescued regularly and that we have the opportunity to meet their immediate needs. Let's never have to say "no" because the fund is dry.  

6. Information Gatherers: Help research and catalog services available that serve victims and/or work to end slavery.

Interested? Let us know!  

We welcome your ideas, and those of your organization, about ways to participate.

If you're new to End Slavery Tennessee, please take a look at our archived newsletters which can be found through a link at the top right of our website.

Please forward this newsletter on to others who might want to get involved.