ST. LOUIS - The Salvation Army opened its newest addition in the fight against human trafficking, their anti human trafficking drop-in center, where trafficking survivors can stop by for relief or resources.

“Our drop-in center is centered around people who are escaping or even currently in trafficking situations,” LaKeysha Fields, Salvation Army, said. “It's a daytime center where they can come in, have a hot meal, a shower, talk to our counselors, even get some medical services and when they are ready and when they are able, we help them to escape that situation.”

The Salvation Army reported St. Louis and Missouri rank among the top 20 cities and states for human trafficking, something Major Adam Moore said their organization is working on.

“We don't talk about it very often, but St Louis and the whole state of Missouri is plagued with this issue,” Moore said.

Moore said the drop-in center is all a part of a three-part, anti-trafficking initiative their organization is working on which includes providing education, resources, and recovery to those survivors and the community.

“We want to provide service to those who have been trafficked not just for short periods of time, but we want to be committed to their long-term recovery and their long-term freedom,” Moore said.

Fields said each experience varies in those who experience human trafficking.

“Human trafficking can look very different from the movies,” Fields said. “They will find themselves in a situation that they weren't expecting from people who they already know.

Numbers from the National Human Trafficking Hotline show a growing outreach for help in Missouri and Illinois over the last three years.

The drop-in center will serve women 18 years and older and the location remains private out of safety for the survivors looking for the light at the end of the tunnel.

“They find themselves in these dangerous situations where they're looking over their shoulder, they don't see hope in front of them and we want to place that hope in front of them to help them recover,” Fields said.

If you or someone you know needs assistance, please email midantihumantrafficking@usc.salvationarmy.org. Individuals needing immediate service can contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 (TTY:771) or by texting 233733. All services and information are kept confidential.