January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, which is marked by the bright red sand you might see filling cracks in the sidewalks — a symbolic representation of the victims who have fallen through society’s cracks.

HAVEN of Stanislaus County, in conjunction with the Family Justice Center in Modesto, hosted a Red Sand event on Thursday where the symbolic sand was poured into the sidewalk cracks in downtown Modesto.

“For HAVEN, the Red Sand Project represents our commitment to ensuring that victims of human trafficking are not overlooked or forgotten,” said Krissy Zambrano, the Human Trafficking Program Manager. “This project serves as a powerful reminder of why collaboration is essential. Human trafficking impacts our local community, and addressing it requires coordinated efforts between law enforcement, the justice system, and community-based service providers.”

A Red Sand event is being planned for Turlock in the coming days, according to Rosa Hernandez, the Family Justice Center’s Care Advocate.

The Red Sand Project is a national awareness initiative created by artist Molly Gochman to bring attention to human trafficking and modern-day slavery. The project involves pouring red sand into cracks in sidewalks or public spaces to symbolize people who are marginalized, exploited, or hidden in plain sight.

The visual disruption is intended to spark conversation, raise awareness, and encourage communities and systems to recognize and address the gaps that allow exploitation to occur.

“Last week, when we were do the same project, some people would stop and look over kind of curiously, but then just turn forward and keep going,” said May Rico, executive director of HAVEN. “So, the red sand is not only symbolic of survivors themselves, but all the people who see what’s happening but don’t realize what they see … and just keep going.”

HAVEN provides services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. It has staff stationed at the Family Justice Center — 1408 J St., Modesto — that assist with those issues.

Rico, Zambrano, and Hernandez want victims to know that a positive first step for victims of trafficking is to call the HAVEN crisis hotline at 209-577-5980.

“Sometimes it’s just helpful to talk to somebody and find out what options are available to you,” said Rico. “And, of course, all conversations are confidential.”