"Not Just Out There: Human Trafficking in Our Own Backyard"

Rural Vermont

When most people hear the words human trafficking, their minds flash to images of distant countries or Hollywood thrillers. But the painful truth is this: human trafficking isn’t just a global crisis—it’s a local one.

Right here in our communities—rural towns, small cities, even our parishes—people are being exploited. It doesn’t always look like what we expect. Victims are not always shackled or visibly abused. Often, they are hidden in plain sight: working long hours for little or no pay, living under coercion, or being manipulated emotionally and financially.

What We’ve Seen

In Vermont and across New England, survivors have come forward with stories of manipulation by romantic partners, exploitation through online platforms, and silent suffering within homes that seemed safe from the outside. Traffickers are not always strangers—they are sometimes family members, employers, or supposed friends.

That’s why we built this ministry. Because the fight against trafficking can’t just be national—it must be personal.

🕊️ What Can We Do?

As people of faith, we’re not called to ignore evil—we’re called to confront it. Jesus ate with the broken, stood with the outcast, and rescued the abandoned. He didn’t wait for the world to change—He entered it. So must we.

Here are three ways you can help today:

• Pray intentionally for those trapped in silence and fear.

• Learn the signs of trafficking and how to respond safely.

• Support local efforts through volunteering or donations.

💡 The Catholic Response

The Church teaches that every human person is made in the image of God. That means no one is disposable, and no one is beyond hope. Our work is not just about rescue—it’s about restoration, through mercy, compassion, and concrete action.

Together, through grace and grit, we will continue to fight. Not just across the world—but here. In our homes. In our schools. In our towns. Where God has planted us.

🕯️ "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." – John 1:5