Giving Tuesday donations will go toward helping victims of human trafficking

Giving Tuesday donations can help victims of human trafficking find hope and healing in Maryland.

The Salvation Army is collecting donations for Catherine's Cottage, an emergency safe house that provides shelter and other services to victims of human trafficking.

“We let them know, ‘You are loved, you can do whatever you want to do.' And, we walk with them every step of the way,” said Dina Jones, program director for the Salvation Army's Catherine's Cottage.

At a hidden location in Baltimore City, there's a home full of hope, a place of refuge for victims of a hidden, but prevalent crime.

“Maryland is a hot spot, pretty much because of these major highways and corridors that lead to major cities, like Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., New York. It's easy access for a lot of our traffickers,” Jones said.

Much of the trafficking happens at truck stops along Maryland's highways. According to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center, about 70% of human trafficking incidents take place at truck stops across the country.

Women and girls represent 65% of all trafficking victims globally, most of whom are trafficked for sex and some are trafficked for labor.

Catherine's Cottage, which is the only program in Maryland that provides housing exclusively for sex-trafficking and labor-trafficking victims, has helped more than 200 people since the shelter opened in 2017.

“Pretty much, Catherine's Cottage is that safe haven,” Jones said. “We provide them with shelter, immediate shelter. No judgment. Just love. Come in, enter, we give them the time to rest. We give them safety. We start working on their goals. We offer those life-skills classes, enrichment-type classes.”

The organization also provides wraparound services to help meet victims' physical and mental needs. But all of that is costly. So, this Giving Tuesday, the Salvation Army seeks donations to support the effort.

“We expend a lot of funds just doing life-support groups, providing medical care, and that's through dental or medical, educational assistance. That will help greatly with that,” Jones said.

The Salvation Army has a goal is to raise more than $60,000 for Catherine's Cottage. Tap here to donate.

People who need to contact Catherine's Cottage can call 406-743-5837 or email Jones here.

READ THE FULL STORY: Giving Tuesday donations will go toward helping victims of human trafficking