Crystal woman fights human trafficking with Freedom Truck

Food trucks are everywhere these days but one, the Crystal-based Freedom Truck, is about more than just selling food. It’s goal is to fight human trafficking.

Director Stephanie Page says people don’t realize that human trafficking happens right here in the Northwest Metro – the Freedom Truck is her way of trying to change that.

More Awareness will lead to change.

Along with the house-specialty falafels, the Freedom Truck dishes out awareness of the problem of human trafficking – and that’s just a start. Starting this fall, Freedom Truck will hire victims of human trafficking who have escaped the industry to work the truck.

It all started a few years ago when Stephanie read “Passport Through Darkness,” which details one person’s fight against human trafficking. Moved by the book, Stephanie founded the Stories Foundation with the idea of finding ways to fight the problem herself.

By early 2016 they’d raised over thirty thousand dollars to buy their first food truck – but they say it won’t be their last.

The organization is hoping to buy more trucks, and a building which would house a central kitchen and restaurant. It would also house employees who need a place to stay. But for now as Stephanie says, the hope is just that people become more aware of the problem.

“Every time we take the truck out, it’s more awareness. Every time someone comes in our restaurant doors it’s going to be more awareness, which I think will lead to action, and lead to change.”

The Stories Foundation and Freedom Truck are looking for volunteers and donations – to find out more, go to http://storiesfoundation.org/.

Brandon Bankston, Reporting