Stories

Written by Grant Stimmel

Like animals in a zoo, but worse.

You wait for your number to be called. 

17. 34. 92. One by one the other girls leave…

Then it is just you. Number 146. 

Nameless, alone, you await your bidder. Then, finally, you are called. Escorted from the glass room, your dress hangs loose. You are 11-years-old, and only beginning the worst night of your life. Only this happened last night, too. And the night before that. Tomorrow, there will be more of the same.

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. 

Quick, what are you doing on February 1st? 

Settling in for another night of Netflix? 

Wrong!

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.

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.

Expand Your Family Tree this Holiday Season 

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. 

#AnimalsofCLT: Animal Adoption League

By Grace Kennedy

"Until there are none, rescue one." Animal Adoption League's motto gets straight to the heart of their approach as a foster-based rescue organization: they won't give up until they have found loving homes for every animal that comes to them in need.

Dogs, horses and raptors- oh my!

This December, SHARE Charlotte’s Spotlight Series: #AnimalsofCLT will focus in on our local nonprofit partners who care for the animals of Charlotte that are in need of shelter, food, rehabilitation or maybe even a companion. The nonprofit organizations we are highlighting this month serve the #AnimalsofCLT in a variety of different ways, all equally important to the wellbeing of our furry, feathered, and fanged friends. 

Some people give back by helping to build houses, other people serve meals, and some people knit.

SHARE Charlotte received an unexpected package filled to the brim with hand knitted scarves and hats and no explanation except a simple note that read:

“Share Charlotte, Please give these hats and scared to the homeless and the needy. I am an 88 year old knitter and do not know the charities who can use them. Sincerely, Elaine.”