Rotary club hosts fundraiser to support human trafficking survivors

OLD ORCHARD BEACH — The Rotary Club of Saco Bay Sunset is hosting a fundraiser to support survivors of human sex trafficking.

In Maine, hundreds of women and girls, some as young as 14 years old, are trafficked for commercial sex each year, according to information from the nonprofit CourageLIVES. Traffickers often exploit people’s vulnerabilities and target teenagers who have run away from home, offering false promises of a better life.

As part of a Rotary District 7780 grant, the Saco Bay Sunset Rotary club made 200 comfort bags for human sex traffick survivors and their children. these bags were dispersed by CourageLives/St. Andre's Home. Rising Stars, a project of the Saco Bay Sunset Rotary Club, has created a website that has information on human sex trafficking and resources for victims.

The Rotary Club of Saco Bay Sunset is hosting a fundraiser to continue its efforts to support survivors of human trafficking and their families. The club will be raffling off a $150 collection of lottery scratch tickets plus $100 cash. The winner will at least win $100  but could win millions. Tickets are six for $5 or 18 for $10.

Tickets are available now, and the raffle will be drawn on Nov. 17. For more information, call or text the club at 207-200-1173. Tickets can also be purchased by Venmo at @Dennis-Robbillard-2.  

Saco Bay News Publisher and Saco Bay Sunset Honorary Rotarian Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.