Students were encouraged to donate products to the Central Missouri Stop Human Trafficking Coalition
The Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention Center held a donation drive through Oct. 31, with proceeds going to the Central Missouri Stop Human Trafficking Coalition for Domestic Violence Awareness month. Since Aug. 2, the RSVP Center has requested donation items like cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, queen sheet sets, bed pillows and more.
RSVP regularly holds donation drives or service events partnering with a number of different charities in Columbia, with the goal of doing one every semester. The RSVP Center partnered with CMSHTC after the two collaborated last semester on professional development, according to Katryna Sardis, Assistant Director for Inclusive Engagement of the RSVP Center.
The CMSHTC was established in 2008 following a conference held by the student group, Stop Traffic, at the University of Missouri. The organization’s mission is to combat forced exploitation, and to work towards ending trafficking through work with local communities and supporting survivors. The CMSHTC provides a number of services for survivors, including shelter, emotional and medical support, outreach and education, community collaboration and more.
The RSVP Center was also using this drive as an opportunity to raise students’ awareness of the resources it offers, despite their primary goal being to support the CMSHTC.
“Anything really does help with these organizations, as they are relatively small and are completely volunteer based,” Sardis said. “We’ve had some folks–they’re virtual students–but they saw it, and they’ve mailed things in. They did a Walmart online order and shipped it right to our door, which we were really, really appreciative of for the center.”
The RSVP Center continues their mission of supporting the community and campus through their next event on Dec. 6, a brunch to mentally prepare students for finals week.
Edited by Eric Hughes | ehughes@themaneater.com
Copyedited by Stella Spragg and Hannah Taylor | htaylor@themaneater.com
Edited by Emilia Hansen | ehansen@themaneater.com
Edited by Emily Skidmore | eskidmore@themaneater.com