LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — As January marks National Human Trafficking Awareness Month, a local effort is underway in Lexington to support survivors of sex trafficking. Natalie’s Sisters has partnered with DV8 Kitchen to collect twin-size blankets for women in need. The blanket drive is aimed at providing both comfort and awareness around human trafficking in the community. The blankets collected will go to women receiving support services through Natalie’s Sisters, an organization that works with women who have been sexually trafficked or exploited. “This year we are collecting blankets, which is a real need for the women we serve, as most of them are homeless or functionally homeless,” said Jani Lewis, founder of Natalie’s Sisters. Lewis says the need extends beyond blankets, as many women lack basic necessities. “Most of them have no place to stay, so they need clothing. They need warm gear,” Lewis said. “They need hot food. They need blankets, hot hand warmers — any kind of survival items that we can give them to help them get through the day is maybe one less transaction they have.” Natalie’s Sisters was founded in 2000 to support women working in adult clubs. Lewis says the organization expanded its mission after a tragic event in Lexington. “The first day of 2012, there was a young woman murdered in Lexington and her name was Natalie,” Lewis said. “She had been in the clubs and had moved to street prostitution, and we very quickly believed that was the sign that we were supposed to add that population to our service.” Lewis says the number of women seeking help continues to rise. “We remain busy,” she said. “Every week we have over 100 visits of different women that come to see us. In 2025, we saw somewhere between 575 and 600 unique women at our drop-in site, and that has risen steadily every year.” Lewis also works to address misconceptions surrounding trafficking and to help women see their worth. “They’ll come in and call themselves all kinds of names,” Lewis said. “They’ll say, ‘I’m just a prostitute,’ and we’ll tell them, ‘You are not a prostitute. That is what you are doing right now — that is not your identity.’” DV8 Kitchen owner Rob Perez says supporting the organization was an easy decision. “They showed us the heart,” Perez said. “They’re incredible people that work with people that have been trafficked and they do it every day. They show up just to give people a pair of socks and a meal and meet them where they are.” Lewis says even small acts of kindness can make a meaningful difference. “We’ll feed them, we’ll give them clothing, we’ll give them the survival things they need,” she said. “We’re there to talk to them, to validate them and love them. It’s a seed that’s being planted.” Twin-size blankets can be dropped off at DV8 Kitchen locations on East Third Street and South Broadway. The drive runs through January 31. Categories: Featured, Local News, News Tags: blanket drive, DV8 Kitchen, Human Trafficking Awareness Month, Lexington nonprofit, natalie’s sisters, sex trafficking survivors ...read more read less