Tajuan McCarty shared her story of being trafficked as a 15-year-old sex slave as the Pike Regional Child Advocacy Center kicked off Child Abuse Awareness Month on Monday.

McCarty is the founder of The Wellhouse, a faith-based, Christ-centered nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing women from human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

McCarty shared her personal story of being trafficked across the United States, beginning at the age of 15. She was trafficked in every state, except for Alaska and Hawaii. McCarty described how badly she was beaten, mentioning that her face will no longer bruise and that the bone structure in her face was destroyed so badly that her teeth had to be removed and replaced with fake ones.

She only shared a few stories of her journey, but they were enough to show the terrors of what women and girls who are trafficked go through every day.

“It never starts as an adult,” McCarty said. “None of our girls and ladies that [The Wellhouse has] served started as an adult, even the 59-year-old I rescued. It starts as a child.”

McCarty emphasized that this is an issue that is being looked over time and time again, and it is an issue that is happening locally.

“It’s happening right here,” McCarty said. “Of the women and girls I’ve rescued, 77 percent are from Alabama. Our kids are being hurt in Alabama, and we have got to stop it. These are our babies, our sisters and our daughters that this is happening to.”

Her words resonated with the officials and volunteers gathered at the Proclamation Day activities.

“If that wasn’t a call to action, I don’t know what is,” said Troy Mayor Jason Reeves. “Not only do our eyes and ears need to be opened, but our hearts and minds need to be opened.”

Other city officials attended the Proclamation Day service, joining Reeves as he read the proclamation on behalf of the Pike County Chamber of Commerce, the City of Troy and the City of Brundidge.

Sheila Jackson, public relations director of the City of Troy, opened the program performing a song about heroes. After the song, Kappa Delta Sorority from Troy University presented a check for more than $24,000 to the CAC.

The program concluded with a balloon release. Every person in attendance released a blue balloon into the air for Child Abuse Awareness Month.