Written by Eden Estabrook
Photography by Nathan Villaume
Did you know that Charlotte is the #1 city in NC and #7 city in the nation for human trafficking activity? Stunned? Hold on. There’s more. A girl is bought and sold every 15 seconds for an average cost of $90. That means, by the time you finished reading that statistic, one girl has been forced into human trafficking. By the time you finish reading this article… well. You do the math.
Human trafficking can sound like a humanitarian heartstring issue, pulling on the fringe of society, and before meeting a victim - a college student who was coerced into what was advertised as a modeling agency career photo shoot - I coldly dismissed sex trafficking as the modern-day term for prostitution. I quickly realized this is real life where people are preyed upon, often drugged and abused.
Vulnerability creates desperation, and loneliness, low self-esteem, lack of familial structure or money trouble presents itself at a bus stop, a facade of a relationship,
Local nonprofit organization Playing for Others (PFO) believes that the two most important questions we can ask in our lifetime are “Who Am I?” and “How will I give of that?”
PFO not only poses these questions for teens and young adults, but also helps to answer them through programs focused on Personal Development, Service, and the Arts. One of PFO's signature programs is their Buddy Program, where teens partner with children with disabilities (“buddies”) to build genuine friendships - but don’t take it from me, take it from Anna Gaeckle.
January is National Human Trafficking Awareness month and with North Carolina climbing the list of high risk states year after year (and Charlotte being the #1 region in North Carolina where human trafficking is most prevalent), it is an issue that our community cannot afford to ignore. Thankfully, there are local nonprofit organizations who work tirelessly to protect against this issue. In order to help raise awareness this month, SHARE Charlotte’s January Spotlight Series will focus on our nonprofit partners who serve those at risk and/or those who have already been affected and are recovering from the horrors of human trafficking.
You’re going to have to watch House of Cards another night because February 1st plays host to the first ever So You Think You Can Bark. An outrageously fun night of pup-inspired entertainment benefiting Charlotte’s own Stand For Animals.
Stand For Animals is an organization committed to providing affordable veterinary care to tens of thousands of pet owners across Charlotte and beyond. They offer everything from spay/neuter services to full-blown veterinary care for pet owners who may otherwise be unable to regularly visit the vet.
Five Ways You Can Help Charlotte’s Other Animals
by Addie Rising
"Animals are reliable, many full of love, true in their affections, predictable in their actions, grateful and loyal. Difficult standards for people to live up to." ― Alfred A. Montapert
Many of us have dogs or cats and we just love our furry friends. But these animals aren’t the only creatures in Charlotte who need help … or in some cases provide support for humans. Here are some ways you can help animals other than Fido and Fifi, right here in Charlotte.
#52Tuesdays: Change Someone's World this Holiday Season
Written by: Eden Estabrook
The holiday months of November and December invites people. Thanksgiving kicks off the season with an attitude of thankfulness and instills a desire to give back some of what we have (#GivingTuesdayCLT, anyone?). December helps bring it home with a season of gift-giving and time spent with loved ones that reignites the November giving-back mentality.
With so much out there, it’s hard to know where to start. In a large city like Charlotte, it’s easy to feel like you’re barely scratching the surface with your efforts. Rest assured, every effort makes a difference. I’m sure of it. Here’s why:
The insightful Dr. Seuss once wrote, “To the world you may be one person; but to one person, you may be the world.”
Parachute Media is a full-service digital marketing agency who recently brought their services to the growing city of Charlotte. From social media and digital advertising to video and content creation, they are passionate about telling stories that align with your business and have a big impact on your target audience.
Something else they’re passionate about? Animals...which is why they chose to sponsor this month’s #AnimalsofCLT series with SHARE Charlotte.
Why did Parachute Media decide to sponsor #AnimalsofCLT this year?
It is always encouraging to see local for-profit businesses pairing up to do GOOD for local nonprofit organizations, especially this time of year.
We are excited to SHARE about the generosity of our friends at 2ULaundry, a local delivery laundry and dry cleaning service in the area, who are supportive of the nonprofit community year-round, but who are doing something special this holiday season.
2ULaundry will be volunteering as a company for Crisis Assistance Ministry, Saturday December 15th. They will have almost all of their full time employees at the Crisis Assistance Ministry free store to help however they can for the majority of the day including helping to collect clothing donations, sort them, move items around, and even help those who need it while they are shopping through the store.
The human-animal bond is unlike any other. We don’t speak the same language, yet that proves to be no obstacle for the invisible tie that binds us with our pets. It’s a relationship unlike any other. Despite all our differences, animals and humans bring out the best in each other and the Humane Society of Charlotte brings this reality to homes across the city and beyond every day.
The mission of the Humane Society of Charlotte is to deliver effective, innovative services that strengthen the human-animal bond and improve the lives of companion animals and the people who care about them. In other words, the Humane Society exists to see humans and animals become family.
We have so much great news to share from our nonprofit partners about their amazing work. But, we'd love to hear from you. Let us know if you have stories you'd like to tell and we'll make you a guest blogger!!
lifetime are “Who Am I?” and “How will I give of that?”
