COLUMBUS (WCMH) - Human trafficking is a problem that often goes unnoticed and many times children are the victims. A local group that's helping the victims and trying to shine a light on the problem has an ambitious goal.
It's all to help children who are victims of sex trafficking. This event is to bring awareness to the problem and raise money for a group that works to help rehabilitate the victims at Gracehaven. Brooke Pollard works with the organization.
"I have goosebumps. I'm so excited. I just can't believe like people are doing this and rallying," said Pollard.
Pollard works closely with the kids who are rescued from a life of forced prostitution.
"These kids are trafficked on average 15 times a day, but some of our girls at our house told us they've been raped 30 to 40 times a day," said Pollard.
She said one day she hopes this type of crime will stop, but for now, sometimes all these victims have is help from the community. Kristy Meyer with Next Level Trainings. It's a group of students that helped organize the fundraiser that's goal is to raise $165,000 for Gracehaven.
"People don't even know that Ohio is one of the top states in the United States for human trafficking. It's happening in our own backyard," said Meyer.
That's why she feels it's important for folks to be aware of what's going on around them, and to talk to your children about predators.