January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month and The Janelle Grum Family Crisis Center of East Texas is focusing on escaping sex trafficking and where to find safety.

Safe Dreams, Secure Nights is the local human trafficking awareness theme for 2025. The Janelle Grum Family Crisis Center of East Texas chose this campaign theme because a warm bed and clean linens to go on a bed are more than just essentials, they are symbols of safety, dignity and hope for survivors who are rebuilding their lives and moving forward after escaping abuse.

Human trafficking, as defined by federal law, involves the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person through force, fraud, or coercion for the purposes of commercial exploitation. This modern-day form of slavery takes various forms, including sex trafficking, labor trafficking, and exploitation of minors. The exploitation may involve stripping, pornography, prostitution or forms of forced labor.

 

The Family Crisis Center of East Texas will be holding an open house on Thursday, January 23rd, at the Lufkin Administrative & Outreach Office, 2401 Davisville Rd. The community is welcome to attend between the times 9 am-11 am or 2 pm-4 pm, addressing how the agency -- with community support -- can serve human trafficking survivors and what is needed to serve them.

Supporters will hear remarks from staff members at both 10 am and 3 pm. Bed and bath items can also be dropped off during this time and donors will receive a FREE human trafficking awareness t-shirt while supplies last.

As Human Trafficking Awareness Month unfolds, the Family Crisis Center of East Texas urges the community to stay informed, share knowledge, and actively contribute to the prevention of human trafficking in all its forms. Human trafficking often thrives unnoticed. Learn to spot the signs, report suspicious activity, and support survivors. Together, we can create safe nights for everyone.

If you or someone you know is the victim of human trafficking, domestic violence or sexual assault, call the agency’s 24/7 hotline at 1-800-828-SAFE (7233) or text 936-552-9256.

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Gallery Credit: Google Maps

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