Listen to this article
Southern Territory makes prayer quilt for victims of trafficking.
A human trafficking quilt crafted by The Salvation Army was displayed at the Freedom Summit, held Jan. 25-26 in Fremont, Calif., to discuss ways in which the Bay Area can help end human slavery.
“The public isn’t really aware of The Salvation Army’s involvement to end human trafficking,” said Cindy Sutter-Tkel, divisional social services consultant for The Salvation Army Golden State Division. “I thought the quilt would be a great visual to represent the scope of our commitment to ending slavery.”
The quilt was put together in 2010, by The Salvation Army USA Southern Territory, as a way to raise awareness about the issue and to pray for those who had been impacted by trafficking.
Alesia Adams, the territorial coordinator against human and sexual trafficking, spearheaded the project. She said as she traveled the territory she was often asked what others could do to assist victims. Adams said she would normally suggest something small, such as prayer squares.
“One woman, after attending my presentation at the Clearwater Salvation Army Home League started sewing,” Adams said. “ In her letter to me, she stated, ‘After I got started I was so enjoying myself making different squares and putting them together that I bought more material and made more.’”
Different areas of the Southern Territory then sewed a 12×12 square in Sunday school, Bible study, camps, councils and even at lunch hour to create one cohesive quilt that features Bible verses, spiritual quotes and messages for survivors.
