Salvation Army Targets Sex Trafficking Scourge In Chicago
CHICAGO (CBS) -- This time of year, the Salvation Army is known for their red kettle campaign.
But now they've launched a new campaign to reach out directly to the people they serve, CBS 2's Sandra Torres reports.
By simply walking through this area in the West Humboldt park neighborhood, you would never know it's a spot known for sex trafficking.
"Gangs have identified this area as a way to make money, and unfortunately they have used women and children to do that," said Stephen Lepse, of Salvation Army's Family Community Services. "We want to stop that."
That's one reason the Salvation Army launched a new street campaign to reach people in need where they live.
Workers are placing 10,000 flyers across the city to spread the word about the services they offer.
"The hope here is that it draws them to the flyer and they're able to say let me grab this number and see what this is about," said Summar Guias, task force coordinator for the Salvation Army's STOP IT program.
Salvation Army is taking the campaign to billboards on train trestles to posters at CTA warming stations.
Even inside bathroom stalls.
The goal is to speak directly to the people the Salvation Army serves.
"Any means that we can get the word out, we are looking forward to seeing results from this campaign," said Lepse.
Chicago is one of the first major cities to implement the $100,000 campaign. Their goal is to have all flyers and billboards up by January.