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-SoiuthShore 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.
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.
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.
Our Mission
The CAHT-SouthShore provides support for the Tampa Bay Area Task Force on Human Trafficking. We foster community and faith-integrated actions to end Human Trafficking in Hillsborough, County, Florida.
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.
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