As part of National Human Trafficking Prevention Month in January, Truth for Women (TFW) and a Penn State Lehigh Valley arts class have joined forces on an awareness and fundraising project involving the sale of silver heart charms meant to symbolize healing for sex trafficking victims.

The hand-crafted charm was designed by PSU-LV’s Gallery Director and Art Coordinator Ann Lalik, whose arts project class in jewelry making and metal work volunteered to do the sanding, polishing and other finishing work on the charm. The Arts Project at Penn State Lehigh Valley allows community members to take non-credit arts classes in various areas of interest and at levels from beginner to advanced.

The heart was designed so that it can be used as a bracelet charm, necklace or bookmark. It comes packaged in a small box with a card that reads: “This heart helps heal victims of sex trafficking in our area through awareness and support of restorative care services. Ann Lalik based her design on the Truth for Women logo with the hope that those of us who wear it will become ambassadors for the women and children victimized by this horrific epidemic.”

Truth for Women is a nonprofit organization that works with the Department of Homeland Security to prevent sex trafficking in the Lehigh Valley. Through its Truth Home, TFW provides therapeutic residential care for survivors of sexual exploitation. It also operates My Sister’s Closet, a women’s resale boutique that helps provide about one-third of TFW’s funding.

According to board member Maureen O’Meara, TFW operates with the help of more than 200 volunteers and donors. It receives no government funding. About one-third of its money comes from individual donors and businesses, and another third from local churches, O’Meara said.

TFW board member Sally Ryan, who chairs the fundraising committee, said 200 charms will be for sale initially, but the plan is for the charm to be sold “forever.” The fundraiser will officially be launched Jan. 30 with a wine and cheese mixer from 5:30-8 p.m. at the home of John and Susan Blair of Blair Custom Homes. The event is free and open to the public. Contact Ryan at saryan@ptd.net for reservations.

The charms will be available for purchase after Jan. 30 both on the TFW website at www.truthforwomen.org and at My Sister’s Closet, Park Plaza Building, 3400 Bath Pike in Bethlehem.