2025 Sumter's First 'Communities Against Trafficking' Walk-a-Thon

Communities Against Trafficking : Sumter, South Carolina

Hosted by Pietas Coalition Corporation

On November 1st, from 12 to 5 p.m., Pietas Coalition will hold its first ever Communities Against Trafficking walk-a-thon at Patriot Park in Sumter, South Carolina. Participants, families, and local leaders will proclaim Sumter’s united pledge to defend children from trafficking and unwanted predatory behavior. They will follow a half-mile stretch of serene wooded trails and ponds, stopping at posters that share preventative education and interactive QR codes designed to build community awareness. Upon completion, attendees can grab Pietas' stickers and whistles for children that can be utilized to alert trusted adults if they encounter unsafe situations. We will also have t-shirts for our veteran community as we seek volunteers for neighborhood watch programs.

The event will feature a community-signed canvas and posters, showcasing names and messages of solidarity. Together, these works symbolize Sumter’s public promise to protect its most vulnerable. The art will begin its journey in Sumter and continue through partner jurisdictions, including victim advocacy centers (under official review), as a traveling testament of shared responsibility.

The pictured artwork, “Swan Lake Iris Gardens,” was painted by Stephen Drayton, a Special Olympics bowler and gold and silver medalist. Accompanying hand-print posters (not pictured) were created by Charlie Rimmer, also a Special Olympics bowler and gold medalist. Their art captures both innocence and resolve, the heart of a community choosing to stand guard for its children.