The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that children who leave or lose their homes are likely to be approached by a trafficker within 48 hours.
I know it can be overwhelming to view missing posters on social media and on store walls. It feels hopeless. It feels like there are too many, there is no way that we could memorize all those names and faces and be constantly on the lookout for missing children wherever we go.
But seeing these CAN and DOES make a difference in the following ways:
You can PRAY. God is bigger than this. God knows more than we can ever know. When we connect with Him He can give us a greater awareness of our surroundings. Through prayer we can support missing children and their families, even from thousands of miles away.
You can narrow viewing to local cases: the National Center for Missing and Explioted Children has a page called "Critiacally Missing Children." If you click that link, you will be shown a box which says "Help Me Get Back Home." This box will list three critical local cases.
- You can also search for local cases via the search bar on the NCMEC website.
You can call. If you see anything suspicious call your local Police Department. Or if children are involved immediately call the National Center for Missing and Explioted Children hotline - 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) - This would be a great number to add into your phone and/or memorize.
You can share. Social media is a great place to spread awareness of missing children. You yourself may not live in California but you may have some friends or family who do. "Like" the Missing page on Facebook to get updates every day about missing person cases.
- Read this recent article about the success of using social media as an awareness tool - The Daily Dot
trafficked, but many of the trafficking cases are NOT fake.
Thank you for reading, sharing and acting. God bless.
- Warrior Child -