Fulton Fire. Dept. to provide kids with Halloween ‘treats’, conduct ‘Red Sand’ project

The Fulton Fire Department, 340 Browder St. in Fulton, opens its doors on Oct 31 22 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. to hand out special Halloween treats to children and provide the community with an opportunity to tour the fire station, see the equipment, and continue to learn about fire safety and prevention through talking with firefighters.

Fulton Fire Chief Jeremy Martin opening the firehouse is a great opportunity for Fulton residents to see the fire house, the firefighters, and take some ownership in services.

“Throughout the evening, there will be tours of the building, time to explore the apparatus, and access to speak with firefighters,” he said.

During the open house at 6:15 p.m. the Fulton Fire Department will have a special time to provide attention to the victims of human trafficking, to bring awareness to the community, by taking part in the national initiative known as the Red Sand Project.

Molly Gochman first launched Red Sand Project in 2014, after realizing the depths to which slavery continues to be a contemporary reality.

Globally, an estimated 40.3 million individuals live in slavery, whether in forced marriages, forced labor, or for sexual exploitation. Gochman recognized that to begin finding a solution to such a widespread challenge, increased public awareness and engagement would be essential.

She initiated the first Red Sand Project action in Miami, where she filled the cracks of sidewalks in and around the Art Basel Miami Beach pavilion with red sand.

The approach was symbolic, with the grains of sand representing those individuals who fall through the cracks—whether the cracks of our social, economic, and political systems or those of our personal consciousness.

To expand the reach of the project, Molly launched this website offering Red Sand Project toolkits, which include packets of red sand and information about slavery and trafficking in the U.S. and across the world, giving participants a way to physically engage with the cause and to build discussions around the action.

Today, Red Sand Project actions have been done in all 50 states and in 70 countries, with more than one million participants.

“No one should fall through the cracks,” Chief Martin said, adding if anyone is a victim or needs to report a suspected human trafficking case, they should use the National Human Trafficking Hotline by calling 1-888-373-7888.