HAMPTON, Va. - A group of students from Hampton High School's International Baccalaureate Academy partnered with Walmart on Saturday to help those most vulnerable get back on their feet.
After collecting $450 from their peers, eight students from the high school visited the Coliseum Central Walmart to purchase sheets, towels, feminine products and other essential items for local victims of human trafficking. The students also filled a shopping cart with items that were donated.
The effort started as a school project.
"We're doing it so that other people can be safe and so that we can make sure this decreases and doesn't start increasing more and more," said tenth grader Kay Boursiquot.
Everything that was purchased and donated will go to Transitions Family Violence Services, Hampton City Schools says. The organization supports human trafficking victims in Hampton.
"We came up with this topic of human trafficking that does occur, so [the students] did further research and recognized that it's something they can support and help with," said Damien Collins, an Academy Principal at Hampton High School.
The group also partnered with Hampton Police, who packed 60 backpacks with essentials for the event. The district tells News 3 that the students have spoken with the Department of Homeland Security to learn more about the lives of trafficking victims after they've been removed from danger.
