Day 2: PAINT

We met at Nationals Park last night for a baseball game and then a special project. One of the player's wives is a dedicated ambassador in the effort to end human trafficking and human slavery. Last night the two efforts intersected with a chance for us to "paint" the sidewalk outside Nationals Park red as a part of the Red Sand Project.

I'd estimate about 30 people gathered after the game (maybe more!) and spread the sand in the cracks of the sidewalk. It was overwhelming to think about the people that are taken advantage of every day. Several people who weren't filling cracks with us asked what we were doing. It gave an opportunity to share the mission of the "sidewalk intervention" (there were post cards that we were able to hand out for informational purposes) and others stopped and asked to participate.

Spreading the word about @RedSandProject with @Half_St_Irr . #EndHumanTrafficking #RedSandProject pic.twitter.com/yOrPRBvQDx

— Jen Underwood (@vandygirl1998) October 1, 2016

It was cool to go back to the park today - to see the sand and the hashtags we printed (sidewalk chalk) still there - and to see more people stopping to look and ask questions. We are often reminded that one person makes a difference. One person doing one small thing. Together we can do more. I am thankful for the opportunity to know some good hearted people through baseball, and to use that community to spread the word about other communities that need our help.

See some images / tweets from our experience below.

@emaysway @Half_St_Irr #RedSandProject #stophumantrafficking #EotRSB3 pic.twitter.com/59aHk5pljh

— p.a.m. (@wvtoots) October 2, 2016

Thanks everyone who participated in #RedSandProject tonight. We cannot ignore our most overlooked populations any longer! #EndModernSlavery pic.twitter.com/z3mnQj7qEH

— Erica May-Scherzer (@emaysway) October 2, 2016

Outside Nats Park spreading red sand ... raising awareness to end human trafficking. @redsandproject @emaysway pic.twitter.com/4Fv47aAzU5

— MaryB (@maryb889) October 1, 2016

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This post is a part of 31 days of Five Minute Fridays. Other posts in the series are here.