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Save The Children Event Fights Against Trafficking
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From left, Brianne Szuggar, Jacklynn Bairos, Sierra Bacigalupi, Brittany Taliaferro and Jessicca Norwood were all involved in the local “Save the Children” sex trafficking awareness campaign recently and reported that 100 percent of the proceeds from the event will be going to the Without Permission organization to raise awareness about and continue the fight against trafficking. Photo Contributed

Taking the opportunity to fight back, organizers of a local ‘Save the Children’ event reported a successful fundraiser to battle sex trafficking. The donation event took place on Thursday, July 30 at 401 E. F St., Oakdale, in the rear parking lot of the business. Hosted in two different sessions, the event ran from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and then again from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

This version of ‘Save the Children’ was put on to raise money for human trafficking awareness. To support the cause, people were able to reserve a balloon bundle to raise awareness and have it delivered to their home, or people picked it up drive-thru style.

The goal for the day was to raise $1,000 to benefit the Without Permission organization out of Modesto. The Oakdale event raised over five times that amount coming in at $7,170. There was a total of $4,495 in donations, $800 in business donations, and $1,875 in direct donations. Organizers said 1,800 bracelets, 500 balloons, 105 citizens and 10 raffle baskets are what made the sex trafficking awareness event possible.

“We couldn’t have done this without such an amazing community and we are so thankful to call Oakdale home,” said Jessicca Norwood. “Please do not stop here. Continue to do what you can for this cause. Those children need us, they need our help and we need to be the voice for the voiceless.”

Dying Breed Brewing, Last Call Brewing, Revive Salon, Jaylene’s Baking, Fit Republic, Café Bravo, Western Prime Merchandise, Oakdale Feed & Seed, HCI Docks, Progressive Excavating & Grading, Cocina Michoacana, Elite Senior Care, Oakies Board Shop, Dixie Daisies, Sew In Love Creations, Mr. Pickle’s and H-Bar Saloon were all among those local businesses to donate and contribute to the raffle baskets or Save the Children donation day.

Jessicca Norwood, Brianne Szuggar, Jacklynn Bairos, Sierra Bacigalupi and Brittany Taliaferro were all a part of the local Save the Children sex trafficking donation event. All of the proceeds from the event will be going to withoutpermission.org contributing to the awareness effort in the Central Valley.