Campaign Against Human Trafficking-Southshore – Fostering community and faith-integrated actions to end Human Trafficking in Hillsborough County, FL

About CAHT-SouthShore

Yes, it is here. In Tampa, in Wimauma, Ruskin, Brandon, Sarasota and beyond. It's where human trafficking is going on. It is in the form of enforced labor, domestic slavery, sex-trafficking. It is a horrific crime against humanity, second only to drug trafficking as a national crime. As an organization, the Campaign Against Human Trafficking-SouthShore is focused on the sex trafficking of minor children, mostly girls, some as young as 12 or 13 years of age. They may have been picked up in malls, off the streets, or from the Internet. They may believe they are headed for a fun afternoon, a cute date, or maybe they ran away and are found by a pimp (usually within 48 hours of being on the street). Some have been labeled as “throw-away” children, those whose parents have kicked them out or sold them off. Whatever the case, these are OUR children, OUR grandchildren. They are used by others in an inhumane way, forced to perform sex acts multiple times daily, often beaten, medically neglected, missing out on school and normal friendships and real love. Once taken into the sex trade, they have a life expectancy of only 7 years. CAHT-SouthShore formed several years ago to help bring awareness to this crime. In 2014 we were granted Internal Revenue status as a charitable organization, a 501(c)(3), so we could raise funds to expand our goals of helping the children. As you go through this website, you will see the many things we do and hopefully see ways you, too, could help.

Our Focused Approach -- Awareness, Education, Victims Services & Fundraising

Awareness Team

Awareness is one of the most important keys to beating Human Trafficking. Our Awareness Team is dedicated to bringing to the community the horrible statistics of this criminal activity at the local, state, national, and international levels. Residents need to know the indignity of modern day human slavery, whether it be forced prostitution, domestic service, labor, or other sexual activities. Teams are available to provide local clubs and organizations with programs on this subject.

Education Team

Our education team is working to establish a relationship with area schools so that we might present prevention programs. We are volunteering to mentor and tutor students in local schools and are working with the schools on their goals to upgrade the student materials and environment in which they learn. Many of our members are in the schools on a weekly basis to work in classrooms and with individual at-risk children.

Fundraising Team

Our fundraising team raises money to support our vision and our mission by planning spring and fall events. The “Quacktacular” is our spring event and our fall event varies yearly. The money raised at our fall event this year will go to a safe home for victims. Planning and ticket selling are two big jobs of this team.

Victim Services Team

The Victim Services Team (VST) works to assemble Rescue Packs containing clothing and daily necessities for child and teenage victims of sex trafficking. The Rescue Packs are given to the FBI and law enforcement task forces that are directly involved with victim rescues. We also supply household furnishings and equipment to area agencies that provide shelter for these victims. The VST also helps provide, when possible, access to professional services (medical, dental, legal) as well as recreational opportunities such as picnics, bowling, swimming, etc. We rely on donations and fundraising to achieve these goals.

Our Mission

To support the fight against Human Trafficking by providing awareness and prevention activities along with funding needed tangibles for at-risk youth and safe homes and rehabilitation centers for rescued survivors. The Blue Heart is a United Nations symbol representing the sadness of those who are trafficked while reminding us of the cold heartedness of those who buy and sell fellow human beings.

CAHT Volunteer Questionnaire

President Annie Garrison handed out a one-page questionnaire at the New Member Orientation Meeting (Feb. 21) that will help her and the board focus on growing CAHT and fine-tuning some of our energies in a more productive way. So jump on the link and take a few minutes to let us know about…

Membership Renewal and Application 2018

It’s Time to renew your CAHT Membership!! Start 2018 with an invaluable gift to human trafficking survivors -help them find their voice and lost freedom!!! Annual Membership is only $20. Visit the MEMBERSHIP page for full details, more information, and the application. The application and renewal is also HERE –…

Amazon Smile

YOU CAN NOW HAVE YOUR AMAZON PURCHASES HELP OUR CAUSE “Amazon is tripling the donation amount to 1.5% when customers make their first eligible smile.amazon.com purchase from March 12 – 31″. Read about the promotion – – > AmazonSmile 1.5% Promo . Please consider making your Amazon purchases…

Tiptoe Through the Two Lips Bingo

We are winners again! We are the charity recipients again from YE Royal Krewe of Charlotte De Berry Organization. Event is called “Tiptoe through the Two Lips Bingo”. Bingo Night for Charity at Hamburger Mary’s in Ybor City. The event is May 16th. Reservations recommended! Click Hamburger Mary’s for more info! Good laughs,…

Mending Broken Hearts – Update

Our first social and fundraiser, Mending Broken Hearts, was held April 29th at SCC Chamber of Commerce, and was attended by over 100 guests. Everyone sampled international wines from PRP while nibbling on paired appetizers catered by Enterprising Latinas. Dayve Stewart, saxophone musician, provided great jazz. 35 silent auction items were bid…

President’s Note – April 2018

President’s Note – April 2018 Man must evolve for all human conflict, a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love. – Martin Luther King, Jr. And this is what CAHT is doing – evolving with heaps of compassionate love and community outreach…

La Esperanza Free Health and Wellness Clinic is Moving

CAHT supports the relocation of the present FREE La Esperanza Health and Wellness Clinic to the old Wimauma Fire Station. This will allow expanded health care to one of our most vulnerable populations including children. The new location will also offer other community activities for all of us to enjoy. The Hillsborough County Planning…

May General Meeting

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department Child Protection Investigators Kristin Edwardson and Charree Graham from the Specialized Investigative Unit of the Child Protective Investigations Division will be our feature speakers at May’s general meeting on human trafficking. The Division is responsible for investigating cases involving child abuse, neglect and abandonment as well…

Shell Crafters Club Donation

Shell Crafters Club of Sun City Center donated $500. CAHT Treasurer, John Mitchell, is all smiles while accepting this gracious donation from Shell Crafters President, Laura Akins, and Vice President, Charlene Irvin. Each year Shell Crafters picks one or two community nonprofits to support. CAHT feels very fortunate to be…

“Wimauma Eats” Judging

CAHT president Annie Garrison was one of five judges at the Wimauma Eats held at Enterprising Latinas Center in Wimauma. Delicious presentations by the first graduating class of entrepreneurs who are ready to launch their catering and food service business.

CAHT Victim Services Committee Assembling Backpacks

CAHT Victim Services committee, headed by Joan Kramer, gathered this week to assemble over 50 backpacks for kids and teens of all ages and sizes. Each backpack is a ”starter kit” to a new life for survivors of human trafficking and vulnerable teenagers. The backpacks contain some basic clothing, flip…

Give Day Tampa Bay

GIVE DAY TAMPA BAY — May 1st Give Day Tampa Bay is an online giving challenge. It is an opportunity to support causes you care about, just like the fight against Human Trafficking. The race is on! We have a goal to raise $2,000 this year for our Campaign Against Human Trafficking-Southshore. To help us get…

President’s Notes-March 2018

President’s Notes – March 2018 Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves. J. M. Barrie March was a sunshine month of hope and renewal for CAHT! We received donations from United Methodist Church as one of their Mission of the Month recipients, St. John…

Get Help. Report a Tip. Request Services.

1 (888) 373-7888 National Human Trafficking Resource Center SMS: 233733 (Text "HELP" or "INFO") Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week Languages: English, Spanish and 200 more languages Website: traffickingresourcecenter.org