{"id":113581,"date":"2022-09-13T20:04:52","date_gmt":"2022-09-14T00:04:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=113581"},"modified":"2022-09-13T20:04:52","modified_gmt":"2022-09-14T00:04:52","slug":"bloom-for-women-hosts-fundraiser-dinner-for-new-home-dedicated-to-pregnant-survivors-of-sex-trafficking-in-the-lehigh-valley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=113581","title":{"rendered":"Bloom for Women Hosts Fundraiser Dinner for New Home Dedicated to Pregnant Survivors of Sex Trafficking in the Lehigh Valley"},"content":{"rendered":"

Keynote Speaker is Rev. Becca Stevens, Founder & President of Thistle Farms<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Bethlehem, Pa., September 13, 2022\u00a0<\/strong>\u2014\u00a0Bloom for Women, Inc.<\/a>,\u00a0a Lehigh Valley non–<\/strong>profit organization providing sanctuary and a continuum of care to heal, empower and employ women survivors of sex trafficking, announces it will be holding its\u00a0Justice Revival<\/a>\u00a0fundraiser dinner on Wednesday, September 28 from 6:00 \u2013 9:00 p.m. at the Aster Event Center at Hyatt Place in Allentown, Pa.<\/p>\n

The dinner supports Bloom\u2019s expansion of services to serve pregnant survivors of sex trafficking. Recently, through the generosity of an anonymous donor, Bloom was able to purchase a residence in Allentown, the Mountain Laurel House. Pregnant survivors will receive two years of safety while they heal, deliver and care for their baby, attend parenting classes and receive mentoring and vocational training. Graduates will have a plan for living independently beyond their time at Bloom. The goal of the fundraising campaign, named \u201cWelcome Home\u201d, is to raise $300,000 to cover the capital and operating costs of the home for the next two years.<\/p>\n

As a sister community of the Nashville, Tenn.-based\u00a0Thistle Farms<\/a>\u00a0non-profit recovery model that serves women survivors of prostitution, trafficking and addiction, Bloom is honored to have its Founder & President, Rev. Becca Stevens, as the keynote speaker for the event. After a hot and exhausting summer where a pandemic looms, politics agitate, and we live with an uncertain economic forecast, Rev. Stevens will talk about how it\u2019s time to revive our spirits and work towards justice now more than ever. She will discuss how we can engage our work not ‘in spite of’ the current state of affairs but ‘in response to’ those realities, recognizing the defiant role revival has played in justice movements.\u00a0Her revival theme will engage the community gathered in creative and practical ways we can practice revival in our work and in our lives so that we can continue to add our drops of goodness into loving waters that can sate a thirsty world.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is an exciting time for Bloom and we are truly blessed to have Becca Stevens helping us to kick-off our \u2018Welcome Home\u2019 campaign,\u201d said Carol Andersen, CEO of Bloom for Women. \u201cPregnant women are an underserved population who are often declined services due to being pregnant. We are going to change that and are so thankful to our community that is stepping up and helping us to provide these deserving women with a safe and nurturing environment as they build a new life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thanks to the generosity of Olav and Gina Sandnes who are underwriting the entire dinner event, 100 percent of the evening\u2019s proceeds will go towards meeting the \u201cWelcome Home\u201d campaign goal. In addition, Air Products, Bloom\u2019s Board of Directors, Oceana Health, J.B. and Kathleen Reilly, and the Topper Foundation have all stepped up as Champion sponsors for the event; and Lehigh Valley Health Network and Sharon and Ron Yoshida are a Sustainer-level sponsor.<\/p>\n

For more information on sponsoring or registering for this event, visit:\u00a0https:\/\/bloomforwomen.kindful.com\/e\/justice-revival<\/a>.<\/p>\n

About Bloom for Women<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bloom for Women, Inc.<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0is a faith-based non-profit organization with the mission of providing sanctuary and a continuum of care to heal, empower and employ women survivors of sex trafficking.\u00a0As part of its mission, Bloom offers emergency response, a two-year residential program, and an independent living program in the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania. Bloom follows the model and is a sister community of the remarkably successful Thistle Farms Nashville program. In addition, the Bloom Creative Studio, located in Bangor, Pa., is a social enterprise to leverage art as a healing tool and provide employment opportunities for survivors. Bloom also has a women\u2019s upscale, resale boutique, My Sister\u2019s Closet, based in Bethlehem, Pa., providing employment opportunities for survivors and financial support for the organization.<\/p>\n

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Information Provided By:
\nKaren Higgins
\nBloom for Women, Inc.<\/p>\n

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