9 Virginia orgs to support during Slavery & Human Trafficking Prevention Month

January is Slavery & Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and these nine Virginia organizations need donations to continue to advocate for the issue and help survivors. 

Slavery & Human Trafficking Prevention Month is recognized every January, a tradition that started by presidential proclamation in 2010. The goal of the month is to shine a light on the issue and galvanize anti-slavery and trafficking efforts in communities across the country. However, the issue continues to persist in Virginia. In 2024 alone, the National Human Trafficking Hotline received 661 signals in the commonwealth, with 112 signals coming directly from victims or survivors of trafficking. Since 2007, the hotline has identified 2,222 cases involving 4,552 victims in the commonwealth.

From prevention education in schools and training for service workers to housing, legal aid, and job placement for survivors, here are nine Virginia-based organizations that are on the front lines of the fight against human trafficking that are well worth supporting this month.

1. Northern Virginia Family Services

Location: 3110 Fairview Park Dr., Suite 500, Falls Church, VA 22042

The Multicultural Center at Northern Virginia Family Services provides support to those who have been trafficked. Support offered includes mental healthcare, legal services, and holistic, wraparound support. Given that the center focuses on helping those new to the U.S., it’s staffed by those with similar linguistic and cultural backgrounds to those of its clients.

Volunteer roles include court-appointed special advocates, shelter workers, and drivers. Donations can also be made here.

2. Samaritan House

Location: 2620 Southern Blvd., Virginia Beach, VA 23452

Samaritan House’s mission is to help individuals free themselves from sexual violence and human trafficking through a range of programs and services that are guided by the idea of empowerment. For example, it offers housing, case management, counseling, victim advocacy, transportation, medical assistance, group therapy, job training, and a food pantry. The house has been offering these services since 1984.

The house accepts monetary donations, as well as item and food pantry donations. For example, food, toiletries, and linens are always needed. Those who can’t donate in person can order an item from its Amazon wish list for delivery to the donation drop-off.

3. Freekind

Location: P.O. Box 9307, Hampton, VA 23670

A partnership between two anti-trafficking nonprofits in Virginia, the Richmond Justice Initiative and the Virginia Beach Justice Initiative, Freekind was established in 2021. The organization works to prevent trafficking by providing youth with skills to avoid being exploited and to help restore the freedom of those who have been trafficked.

For example, the organization operates The Prevention Project, a survivor-informed trafficking-prevention program for middle and high schoolers. The Offramps program is offered for incarcerated victims of trafficking, which provides court support and advocacy.

You can get involved by donating or volunteering as a survivor advocate after completing a one-hour volunteer orientation. The advocates walk alongside survivors by helping with short-term crisis advocacy and long-term life development. Volunteers can also teach classes for women in local jails.

4. Freedom 4/24

Location: 2306 Bedford Ave., Lynchburg, VA 24503

Freedom 4/24 works to end human trafficking through prevention, awareness, and restoration. Notably, it offers human trafficking prevention courses. During the 2024-25 school year, 9,142 fifth through twelfth-grade students received training through Freedom 4/24.

The name comes from an experience the founder, Christine, had in Thailand in 2008, when she discovered that traffickers were selling girls for as little as $24. Upon returning to the U.S., she decided to seek out ways to prevent human trafficking. Her initial effort came in the form of a t-shirt fundraiser, which blossomed into Freedom 4/24.

Monetary donations can be made here.

5. Virginia Coalition Against Human Trafficking

Location: P.O. Box 1295, Chesapeake, VA 23327

The Virginia Coalition Against Human Trafficking strives to remove barriers for human trafficking survivors through public awareness campaigns, policy reform, and survivor-centered legislation so that they can lead full and healthy lives. Since 2011, the coalition has been bringing together leaders from government agencies, state and federal law enforcement agencies, and private organizations to address the issue.

During this year’s legislative session, the coalition plans to lobby the Virginia General Assembly for forfeiture reform, vacatur expansion, and safe harbor protections. To aid in the coalition’s work, donations can be made here.

6. Survivor Ventures

Location: 259 Granby St., #250, Norfolk, VA 23510

Since 2018, Survivor Ventures has been providing economic opportunities to survivors of human trafficking in Virginia using a trauma-informed approach. The idea behind the organization is that survivors are more likely to gain freedom if they can find gainful employment. Currently, 141 survivors are served each year.

Its programs include rental assistance, vocational training, and mental health support. Additionally, it works with small businesses that support the mission of providing employment. Another program even helps survivors who are business-savvy start their own businesses.

Donations can be made here.

7. NATSO

Location: 1330 Braddock Place, Suite 100, Alexandria, VA 22314

The National Association of Truck Stop Operators actively works to bring together those in the transportation sector to prevent human trafficking using American highways. For example, it provides its members with a “Combating Human Trafficking Toolkit” and online training module that’s meant to educate owners, operators, and employees on how to respond if they suspect human trafficking is occurring at their truck stop or travel center.

The association’s anti-trafficking work grew out of a 2013 pledge that stated it was taking a stand against human trafficking and would educate industry employees on how to report suspected trafficking. To support this work, donations can be made to the NATSO Foundation.

8. New Creation VA

Location: 2051 S Main St., Harrisonburg, VA 22801

New Creation VA takes a creative approach to counteracting human trafficking. The nonprofit operates a shop that sells survivor-made and fairtrade goods sourced from across the globe to fund its anti-human trafficking work, with 100% of the profits going towards that mission.

The organization was started by Sabrina Dorman-Andrew, who initially sold Ugandan paper beads from her dining room table. To date, it’s generated over $6 million to counteract human trafficking, which has been used to connect over 17,000 students to prevention education. Donations can be made here.

9. ImPACT Virginia 

Location: Richmond

ImPACT Virginia’s mission is simple: prevention through education. The grassroots volunteer-run organization holds small- and large-scale trainings that equip Virginians to take an active role in stopping human trafficking.

Your donation can support training that resonates with you. For example, you can help fund a training like the “Women & Men Leading Healthy Change at Chesterfield County Jail,” a training led by fourth-year medical students that focuses on human trafficking awareness and prevention.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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