Fareway joins IA Sec. of State Pate’s efforts to combat human trafficking in Iowa

(ABC 6 News) – Fareway Stores, Inc. announced on Monday it has joined a statewide coalition to end human trafficking in Iowa.

The Iowa Businesses Against Trafficking (IBAT) initiative was launched in January 2022 and is led by Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate. More than 590 Iowa businesses and organizations have joined, according to the Secretary of State’s office.

The initiative asks businesses to complete two tasks each year: “Learn Something” and “Do Something.”

Businesses will commit to “Learn Something” by educating employees, customers, and industry partners on the signs and impact of human trafficking in Iowa. Businesses can “Do Something” by empowering more people to take action to prevent human trafficking in the state.

“Fareway is proud to aid in the fight against human trafficking,” said Fareway CEO Reynolds W. Cramer. “By joining with the Iowa Secretary of State and nearly 600 businesses across Iowa, we can fight stronger, together.”  

Fareway has 132 locations around the Midwest with 110 in Iowa. The company also has more than 12,000 employees.

“Fareway is a top 10 employer in Iowa and an important part of many of our communities across the Midwest. I’m thrilled to have them join our army to combat human trafficking,” Secretary Pate said.

The Secretary of State’s office says that membership in IBAT is open to any business or nonprofit organization that operates in the State of Iowa and shares a commitment to taking steps to promote awareness of human trafficking and the Iowa Safe at Home program.

Safe at Home is an address confidentiality program for survivors of human trafficking and other violent crimes.

For more information on IBAT, CLICK HERE.