SAVANNAH, GA -
In advance of the St. Patrick's Day weekend, members of the Savannah Working Against Human Trafficking organization along with volunteers labeled hotel soaps with the national human trafficking number.
"We know that traffickers move victims through in relation, in combination, with big events," said the non profit's President, Joanne Garcia-Melendez.
Each of the boxes went to different area hotels and motels to hopefully be put in bathrooms during March 15-17th.
"Savannah is easily accessible from I-95 which is a known trafficking corridor," said Garcia-Melendez.
The red label that was placed on the back of the soap packet stated: "Are you being forced to anything that you do not want to do? Have you been threatened if you try to leave? Have you witnessed young girls being prostituted? If so, please call 1-888-3737-888."
This is the first time the nonprofit organization has used the soap labels.
"I pray that some of those girls will look down and see the soap and find a way out," said volunteer Abbie Sprunger.
Garcia-Melendez said most children forced into prostitution are girls who are 12 to 14-years-old and there are key signs hotels can look out for.
"Young girls being dropped in the parking lot and someone driving off, big expensive cars in a Motel 6, young girls that are dressed very skimpily maybe hitting on people in the lobby of the hotel," said Garcia-Melendez.
The organization hopes this initiative will bring awareness about what they call a hidden crime.
