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The Convenience Stores Against Trafficking (CSAT) program engages the convenience and petroleum industries to play a vital role in the fight against human trafficking. IN OUR BACKYARD equips convenience stores with no-cost training on human trafficking for their employees and provides life- saving materials to post in stores. 

Convenience store Freedom Stickers raise awareness to over 4 million people every single day! More than 30,000 convenience stores and 17 state-based convenience store associations and 184 convenience store companies have partnered with CSAT. The program has been featured in the NACS Community Toolkit and NACS Daily, Convenience Store Decisions, Convenience Store News, Fox News, and CNN among others.

More than 500,000 Freedom Stickers have been posted over the past decade. Join thousands of convenience retailers across America in support of this important mission!

See How It Works

Why C-stores?

• C-stores serve half the U.S. population daily, usually have public restrooms, are open long hours, and offer convenience through more than 150,000 locations.
• The industry has a unique opportunity to help victims of human trafficking.
• Victims of human trafficking report they visited C-stores every day!
• 40% of Americans – and 45% of women — say that human
  trafficking is a cause they would like their local retailer to
  address.” (Sept. 2018 NACS survey)
• 90% of consumers say that they think more favorably of
  convenience store jobs when they hear that the company
  is fighting human trafficking. (Sept. 2018 NACS survey)

CSAT Benefits:

Improves Employee Safety: Traffickers not only exploit people, they also exploit locations. CSAT equips employees to respond appropriately and safely.

Improves Store Safety: CSAT deters traffickers when they see that you are taking a stand against human trafficking.

Industry-specific & Customizable: CSAT materials were developed through extensive industry research to ensure alignment with industry operations. Materials can be adapted to suit your unique business needs.

Simple & No-cost: CSAT provides materials pre-packaged for each store and sends them to your corporate office at no charge.

Supports Your Local Community: Human trafficking is happening in your community and you can protect local youth and vulnerable populations with CSAT.

CSAT is a no-cost program of national 501c3 nonprofit, IN OUR BACKYARD, and relies on generous donations and sponsorships. Please consider making a donation today!

C-Stores Stop Human Trafficking Training Preview

Access the full training video HERE.

*If you are already using RTO, please contact your Account Manager to have this important training added to your network.

Thanks to our generous sponsors!

In recognition of the c-store industry’s contributions, NACS Vice President of Strategic Industry Initiatives Jeff Lenard was named IN OUR BACKYARD’s 2020 “Hero of the Year.” 

NACS has partnered with IN OUR BACKYARD’s Convenience Stores Against Trafficking (CSAT) since 2018 to amplify the important role convenience stores have to help raise awareness about human trafficking.

CSAT is a program of IN OUR BACKYARD, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit known for its anti-trafficking work surrounding the past nine Super Bowls and for the critically acclaimed book by Founder and Executive Director Nita Belles: In Our Backyard: Human Trafficking in America and What We Can Do to Stop It. IN OUR BACKYARD Freedom Stickers are in all 50 states, providing a pathway to freedom for victims of human trafficking.

Convenience Stores Against Trafficking Registration Page

Sign up to become a CSAT Partner! If you are already a CSAT Partner, please email info@inourbackyard.org to reorder supplies.

CSAT provides training for c-store employees on how to recognize and safely report human trafficking.

*Update: we partner with over 32,000 C-stores. 

Store Reference Sheet:

CSAT provides reference sheets containing indicators of human trafficking and safe response protocols for store employees. Reference sheets are posted in the manager’s office or by the phone to keep key points accessible in case of a suspected trafficking situation.

Freedom Stickers:

Public restrooms are often the only place a victim of human trafficking is alone and safe. C-stores post Freedom Stickers in restroom stalls with the National Human Trafficking Hotline and a message of hope, creating a pathway to freedom for victims from their traffickers. Victims can call or text to arrange a safety plan and connect to services.

The National Human Trafficking Hotline is run by a nongovernmental agency and staffed 24/7 by highly trained advocates. The Hotline has access to more than 200 languages and has procedures in place in all 50 states to ensure that specific law enforcement and service providers who have expertise in human trafficking can respond as needed.

Request an In-Person Training:

CSAT provides experts in human trafficking that are well-versed in the c-store industry for trainings at all-staff meetings and trade shows upon request. In 2018, CSAT spoke at M-PACT, an IPCA retailer meeting, WOMA, PMAA Executive’s Meeting, POC, the Southern C-Store Show, and the Loss Prevention Network Conference. CSAT is scheduled to speak at the Gulf Coast Expo, M-PACT, IPM&CSA Convention, and the UPMRA Convention this year.  

CSAT requests that travel expenses be covered by the hosting company or organization and will award sponsorship benefits for these in-kind contributions. Please fill out this form to request a training.

CSAT is a no-cost program of national 501c3 nonprofit, In Our Backyard, and relies on generous donations and sponsorships. Please consider making a donation today!

How Do I Become a CSAT Partner?

Whether you are a convenience store owner, state association executive, industry supplier or community members, you can partner with CSAT to equip convenience stores to be the eyes and ears in our community to save lives!

Convenience Stores:

CSAT partners with convenience stores to provide training on human trafficking for employees and provide life-saving materials to post in stores. Read more about our training here.

Partnership Requirements:

 Watch training video • Post Freedom Stickers in restrooms • Post Reference Sheets 

Enhanced Partnership:

Host an in-person training • Issue a press release •  Become a CSAT Sponsor 

Register Here to Become a C-Store Partner 

State Associations:

CSAT partners with state associations to inform members about human trafficking, engage in CSAT training, and promote goodwill for the c-store and petroleum industries across the state. Read more about our training here.

Partnership Requirements:

Host CSAT at trade show/conference • Feature CSAT in an article • Include CSAT training materials in member packets • Connect CSAT to member companies in your state

Enhanced Partnership:

Send sample materials to members • Issue press release • Hold a press conference • Become a CSAT Sponsor

Email info@inourbackyard.org to become a State Association Partner.

Industry Suppliers:

CSAT partners with convenience store suppliers to inform dealer companies about human trafficking, engage them in CSAT training, and promote goodwill for your business and the dealers you serve.

Partnership Requirements:

Feature CSAT article • Distribute CSAT Training materials • Make industry connections • Train staff using CSAT video •  Invest in saving lives through a donation to CSAT 

Enhanced Partnership: 

Host a training • Issue press release • Hold a press conference

Community Partners:

We partner with groups including nonprofits, county task-forces, faith-based groups, schools, chamber of commerce and others to do volunteer outreach to local convenience stores in your communities. Groups visit stores to talk about human trafficking and ask owners to post Freedom Stickers and use CSAT training for their employees.

This grassroots canvassing effort is critical to our goal of engaging all of the nearly 155,000 convenience stores in the country. Single-store operators represent 63% of all convenience stores in the nation which means that we need to mobilize an army of volunteers to reach out to these community-based stores.

Partnership Requirements:

A lead/point person for your group who will complete the following:

 Volunteer application • Phone interview • Train volunteers with IOB presentation • Track stores • Return unused materials to CSAT

Enhanced Partnership: 

Host a speaker or training • Host a fundraiser to benefit CSAT

Have a Trucking Fleet?

Check out our partner organization, Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT), to train your staff and receive their materials! With CSAT for your c-stores & TAT for your fleet or truck stops, your entire business can link arms to stop human trafficking in our communities! Click the image to learn more.

Invest in Lives Saved!

Interested in supporting the life-saving work of CSAT with a donation? Our materials are provided free of charge to ensure that all stores can partner in our mission. If you can make a donation or sponsor our work, please contact Cheryl Csiky, Executive Director & Survivor Leader (cheryl@inourbackyard.org) to discuss opportunities and benefits. In Our Backyard is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and all donations are tax-deductible.

CSAT is a no-cost program of the national 501c3 nonprofit, In Our Backyard, and relies on generous donations and sponsorships. Please consider donating today!

Endorsements & Participating Companies

“As a leader in our industry, The Greater Houston Retailers Cooperative Association, Inc. (GHRA) cares greatly about the communities it serves. With nearly 2,000 GHRA member stores across the greater Houston area, we can play a vital role in raising awareness and reaching out to potential victims of human trafficking. GHRA is proud to participate in the Convenience Stores Against Trafficking initiative to promote safety and support for our communities.”
– Mike Thompson, CEO, Greater Houston Retailers Cooperative Association, Inc.

“I feel that the Convenience Stores Against Trafficking initiative has made our store a safer environment. Traffickers don’t want to come in because they know we have taken a stand against human trafficking.”
– Kent Couch, Owner Stop and Go Mini Mart and Growler Guys

“Polaris supports In Our Backyard’s new Convenience Stores Against Trafficking (CSAT) program. Like the Truckers Against Trafficking industry model, through training on human trafficking indicators and Freedom Stickers with the National Human Trafficking Hotline, CSAT is empowering an industry that serves half of the U.S. population daily to help stop human trafficking in their communities. Engaging new industries in the fight against trafficking is a critical step toward ending this crime and we appreciate CSAT’s leadership in this effort.”
– Jenna Novak, Strategic Engagement Advisor, Polaris

“The Convenience Stores Against Trafficking project helps educate convenience store owners about trafficking and how they can help. Convenience store owners can enable countless victims to access the assistance they need. I wholeheartedly applaud the work that In Our Backyard has done to combat the scourge of human trafficking in our nation.” – Congressman Ted Poe, R-Texas

“TAT is excited to see CSAT embark on their critical mission to unite all convenience store workers in combating human trafficking and believe their work has the potential to recover many victims while closing loopholes traffickers are currently exploiting.”
– Kendis Paris, Executive Director, Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT)

“I applaud Convenience Stores Against Trafficking for their commitment to join forces with the growing number of businesses and organizations combating this issue. They, like the National Runaway Safeline, are on the front lines, in a great position to offer a lifeline to help and support.”
– Maureen Blaha, Executive Director, National Runaway Safeline

“Even one person’s efforts can help save a child. We urge everyone to be apart of the solution by reporting it if they see something suspicious. Together we can show traffickers that their crimes will not be tolerated and show these vulnerable children that someone cares.”
– John Clark, CEO National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

CSAT Participating Companies & Association Partners: We have more than 25,000 stores cover all 50 states! 

bpAMA & AMOCO · Petroleum Marketing Group · Mark Oil Company · Whitehead Oil Company& U-Stop · Nebraska Iowa Supply · Hills 66 Inc · P&CMA Alabama · Hough Petroleum · Indiana Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association • Greater Houston Retailers Association • California Fuels and Convenience Alliance • Washington Oil Marketers Association • Georgia Association of Convenience Stores • Associated Food & Petroleum Dealers • Minnesota Service Station & Convenience Store Association • Texas Food & Fuel Association • Western Petroleum Marketers Association • Indiana Food & Fuel Association • Atlanta Retailers Association • Kentucky Petroleum Marketers Association • Mississippi Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association • Ohio Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association • Tennessee Oil Marketers Association • Tennessee Fuel & Convenience Store Association • Florida Petroleum Marketers Association • Wisconsin Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association •

CSAT is a no-cost program of national 501c3 nonprofit, IN OUR BACKYARD, and relies on generous donations and sponsorships.

Invest in Lives Saved!

Interested in supporting the life-saving work of CSAT with a donation? Our materials are provided free-of-charge to ensure that all stores can partner in our mission. If you are able to make a donation or sponsor our work, please contact Cheryl Csiky, Executive Director (cheryl@inourbackyard.org) to discuss opportunities and benefits. In Our Backyard is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and all donations are tax-deductible.

With your support, we can continue to empower members of the convenience store industry with this life-saving program. We can also promote your company for standing out as a leader in this movement to end human trafficking. Will you link arms with us?