Students on Sterling College Ministry Teams have spent the year supporting local organizations who care for victims of human trafficking. This month, Ministry Teams asked their classmates to provide items for Fresh Start Bags, a ministry of Wichita-based organization ICT S.O.S. The bags are filled with personal hygiene items, new clothing, a comfort item and a fast food gift card.

“ICT S.O.S. depends on donations from area businesses and residents to fill the Fresh Start Bags. Collecting supplies for the bags fit well with the available resources our college students have access to and met our Ministry Teams goal of supporting local organizations who care for the victims of human trafficking and abuse. This year Ministry Teams has focused on supporting these organizations and educating our student body on the small, but important, ways they can help victims of abuse,” said Jenny Bradley, director of Ministry Teams.

This project was led by Sterling College students Brittany Bowman, Kari Farmer, Caitlynn McCreight, Astrid Moncada, Joel Morey, Dara Quastad and Adrien Rocha. They collected personal hygiene items, clothing, pens, journals, snacks and drinks. ICT S.O.S. will bag the supplies and distribute them to the Child Advocacy Center of Sedgwick County, Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center, Youthville Secure Care and Wichita Children’s Home Staff Secure Unit, who then give the bags to victims of child and sexual abuse.

Ministry Teams will lead another collection later this spring to support the young residents at Carpenter Place, a faith-based agency providing a Christian home environment for girls who may be struggling with family issues, substance abuse, truancy, legal issues and a variety of other situations.

Sterling College is a Christ-centered, four-year college located in Sterling, Kansas, with a mission to develop creative and thoughtful leaders who understand a maturing Christian faith. For more information, visit www.sterling.edu.