GFWC Hollidaysburg Area Women’s Club President Geny Barthelmes was one of six club members participating in the Red Sand Project at the Diamond in Hollidaysburg on Tuesday. Victim Services, along with the Blair County Human Anti-Trafficking Response Team, is working to raise awareness of trafficking with its nine Red Sand Project art installations. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

HOLLIDAYSBURG — The sidewalk cracks in front of the Blair County Courthouse — and in downtown Hollidaysburg — were filled Tuesday with red sand, an effort to raise awareness of human trafficking and publicize the help available for victims.

Tristan Socie, education and outreach specialist for Family Services Inc., told a group of about 30 gathered at the Courthouse that it’s still a surprise to many people that Blair County adults and children are victims of human trafficking.

“I hope our red sand will help people see that there is a way out … and help those who have fallen through the cracks in our community,” Socie said.

Family Services is one of the local social service agencies that works with law enforcement to help victims of human trafficking, identified as those who are exploited by others, mostly by force, fraud or coercion, to engage in sex acts or a form of labor and/or services in exchange for something of value.

In January, the state Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts released data showing that between January 2019 and December 2023, the state counted 266 criminal cases with 1,235 human trafficking offenses. Blair County, according to AOPC, had 5% of the filed offenses, making it sixth in a comparison with the state’s other counties. Franklin and Dauphin counties ranked first and second, respectively, with 17% and 11% of the state’s human trafficking offenses.

Socie said Blair County remains a prime area for human trafficking in light of its close proximity to Interstate 99 and Route 22. He also linked vulnerability to poverty and the need for rent money and food.

“Traffickers will take advantage of that,” he said.

Those interested in more information or resources to fight human trafficking can contact Family Services’ Victim Services Program at 814-944-3585.

More information on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, as introduced by the United National General Assembly in 2013, is available at unric.org

Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.