Anti-Human Trafficking Awareness Event

Being in the top ten can mean acceptance and something good; being highest ranked. But it also can be a devastating number. North Carolina is consistently in the top ten states of Human Trafficking. Those statistics can be higher as most human trafficking is under reported. Human Trafficking is a very lucrative business with a 153 Billon Dollar industry; 42.5 million are trapped in modern day slavery and the data is showing 300,000 added yearly in the United States alone. Although Human Trafficking has always been around it is the fasted growing crime in the world; it has now surpassed drug trafficking. The FBI, SBI, local Police Departments, Sheriff Departments, NCIS, Homeland Security and others are working together to try to get a handle on this growing crime. It knows no economic boundaries, victims who are vulnerable and easily manipulated get trapped in the prostitution; 12 to 14 years of age children are currently the most targeted

I was honored to be invited by Senator Ted Alexander, North Carolina Senate 44^th District, to attend the Anti-Human Trafficking Awareness Event on April 5 that was held at the Elizabeth Baptist Church in Shelby, NC. Over 100 interested folks came together to listen to speakers such as Christine Long, Executive Director of the NC Human Trafficking Commission, Charnessa Ridley, Deputy Director of the NC Council of Women and Youth, and testimonies from  Jasmine Myers, Shelby Thompson, and Latiana Appleberry of the Survivor Leader Network; amazing stories of despair and now hope. Keynote speaker was Raleigh Sadler, author of Author of Vulnerable: Rethinking Human Trafficking and founder of Let My People Go. Lance Lemmonds, Director of Operations at NC Institute of Human Trafficking spoke, along with Major Marc Nichols, Retired State Highway Patrol and Commission on NC Human Trafficking Commission. Darren Crotts, Program Manager from the NC Rural Center Faith in Communities spoke of the importance of awareness, in which this event was all about. Senator Alexander reiterated the importance of awareness with messages on educating yourself, your team and family, promoting awareness of the problem, keeping our eyes open for the signs and report, and support anti-trafficking, rescue, and rehabilitation efforts. Did you know that Charlotte ranks number one now in the State of NC? The Senator encourages all of us to share this blog and links; especially Compassion to Act and call 704-288-7230 if you, or someone you know may be in need of help.

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Agri Tourism in Carteret County NC - Featuring The Simpson Farm

I had the privilege to write about some of the farms in Carteret County, NC the past 5 years. My husband and I just moved to Lincoln County in the foothills of the NC Mountains in December 2023. I am still learning about my new 'place' and am looking forward to learning about some of the farms in our new town. As a Freelance Writer, I get to tell the 'story' of some amazing people along the way. I hope you enjoy the article below of one of the farms in Bettie, NC in a place called Down East. 

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The Simpson Farm in Bettie NC

Will Rodgers once said, “The farmer has to be an optimist, or he wouldn’t still be a farmer.” That is the beginning of the story of the Simpson’s Farm at 743 Highway 70 in Bettie, run by George and Sandra Simpson.  In 1918, George’s grandfather George (Frank) Simpson bought 20 acres of land in Bettie. He cleared the land by hand and by candlelight. He did the work at night because the nighttime was not so hot. He raised hogs and vegetables to feed his family. When Frank died, George’s father, Dyon, took over the farm in 1944. Dyon raised soybeans, cabbage and sweet potatoes to sell. In 1966, George and Sandra took over the farm. They truck-farmed mostly potatoes and cabbage. All their children helped with the farm, along with migrant workers they hired. When their children became grown and started having children, the grandchildren took over where their parents left off.

Sandra said, “Our farm stand is run by family. It is where we teach our grandchildren how things are grown and sold and to respect your customers.” Apparently, the ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings. George and Sandra did not “set out” to have a farm stand. When George Jr. was 11 years old, he wanted to grow some tomato plants. Of course, his parents encouraged him. That first summer, he had an abundance of tomatoes, so he set up a farm stand by the side of the road. The next year, he asked George and Sandra if they could build him a small greenhouse and if he could plant two rows of strawberries to sell. He sold those crops as well. They ended up building four large greenhouses. The farm stand was doing so well that George and Sandra began growing strawberries, cantaloupe, squash, sharp head cabbage, onions, potatoes and cherry tomatoes. Sandra spent her days doing a lot of cooking for everyone as all the workers had to be fed lunch and snacks. Her baked goods, jams, breads and pickles were such a hit that she was encouraged to bake and sell her goods as well. Another building was built with a commercial kitchen, and Sandra called it Nannie’s Bakery. She is most famous for her pies: strawberry, pineapple, coconut, Hawaiian, peach, sweet potato and Butterfinger. She also makes and sells cookies, cream bars and cakes, with her German Chocolate being the most sought after. The old barn still stands on the property. Sandra, smiling, said, “What if old barns could talk? They would have a lot to say.” No doubt, that barn is full of wisdom as it would tell the stories of the families that lived there, of the things and events that it witnessed, of the storms it endured and the endings of things. There will be stories told and forgotten, and some reinvented anew. A good life is a collection of happy memories. The barn has seen lots of beginnings and endings, but there is no real ending in life. It’s just the place where you stop the story.