Lubbock, Amarillo United stores raise awareness on human trafficking

Over the past few days, people have noticed bright yellow stickers in the bathrooms of United Supermarkets and United fuel stations in Amarillo. The bright blue and yellow stickers say “Get HELP, Get Out.”

As they have for the past three years, United Supermarkets place the stickers in bathrooms as part of Texas Blue Sand Project, a Texas Attorney General's Office initiative to bring awareness to the issue of human trafficking. The project began in January, which is Human Trafficking Awareness month.

More: January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month: What is it, and what are the signs?

The project spreads blue sand into the sidewalk cracks to represent how “communities can prevent victims from falling through the cracks by raising awareness and education.” United also does a sticker campaign. The stickers include call and text hotlines for trafficking victims.

“Part of why we put the stickers in the bathrooms of gas stations and stores is because that may be the only time they get a moment to themselves,” said Joey Marcades, communications manager for the United Family. “That is why they are in bathrooms instead of at the counters.”

This year, the stickers have a brighter design. United is working to roll out the stickers to stores across the area, Marcades said.

Here's signs of human trafficking and how to report it

Multiple people in Lubbock and Amarillo have been arrested in connection to human trafficking in 2023 so far. A Lubbock area bust resulted in 30 arrests and the discovery of two potential trafficking victims, according to a Jan. 23 release. In Amarillo, a joint operation netted five arrests in connection to prostitution, according to a Jan. 20 news release.

Human trafficking can involve sex trafficking, labor trafficking or domestic servitude, according to fbi.gov/investigate/violent-crime/human-trafficking. Common warning signs of human trafficking include:

• Unexplained absences, skipping school or work, or isolation from friends and family.
• Expensive gifts that would normally be out of budget, like designer handbags or clothes.
• Spending a lot of time with an older person who didn't previously have a relationship with the potential victim.
• Carrying a second phone.
• Avoiding eye contact, social interaction, and authority figures or law enforcement.
• Seeming to adhere to scripted or rehearsed responses in social interaction.
• Lacking official identification documents.
• A person looks to be under the control of someone physically or psychologically.
• A person has untreated injuries or illness, visible injuries, appears malnourished or sleep deprived.
• A person being transported to and from work by their employer.
• A person lives where they work.
• A person working for long or unusual hours.
• A person has unusual security measures that don't go with the type of business.

Where to report:

If the situation is urgent, the hotline encourages people to use the call, text or chat lines.

In Lubbock, United works with One Voice Home, Voice of Hope and Open Door, local organizations that provide help for survivors of sex trafficking and sexual assault.

One Voice Home is a “faith-based, state-licensed, trauma informed home for domestic survivors of sex trafficking.” People can reach them at 806-429-2192 or [email protected].

Voice of Hope Rape Crisis Center offers “help, hope, and healing to all persons impacted by sexual violence through advocacy, awareness, and collaboration in Lubbock and surrounding communities.” Contact them at806-763-3232 or call the hotline at 806-763-7273.

Open Door, 1918 13th St., offers supportive and survivor housing for people who need help. People can call the community center at 806-341-9467 or the office at 806-687-6876.

Alana Edgin is a journalist covering Business News in Lubbock and the surrounding area. Send her a news tip at [email protected].