{"id":118340,"date":"2023-05-13T09:37:49","date_gmt":"2023-05-13T13:37:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=118340"},"modified":"2023-05-13T09:46:17","modified_gmt":"2023-05-13T13:46:17","slug":"my-little-flower-boutique-buds-from-bloom-for-womens-unique-mother-and-baby-care-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=118340","title":{"rendered":"\u201cMy Little Flower Boutique\u201d Buds from Bloom for Women\u2019s Unique Mother and Baby Care Program"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bloom is Blooming<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cMy Little Flower Boutique\u201d Buds from Bloom for Women\u2019s<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0Unique Mother and Baby Care Program <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Bethlehem, Pa., May 12, 2023 <\/strong>\u2014 Bloom for Women, Inc.<\/strong><\/a>, Lehigh Valley-based nonprofit offering housing and resources to women survivors of sex trafficking, is pleased to announce the opening of the Mountain Laurel House, fashioned specifically for mothers, and new social enterprise My Little Flower Boutique,<\/p>\n

As part of its mission, Bloom operates five homes in the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania to help women survivors of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation throughout their journey \u2013 helping them to start over, begin to heal, and providing services for transitioning to a better life.<\/p>\n

Mountain Laurel House, is uniquely set up to house pregnant survivors of sex trafficking, exploitation and addiction.\u00a0 Through Bloom\u2019s two-year residential program mothers (mothers of one child under three years old) have a safe space to heal, deliver and care for their baby.\u00a0 The Mountain Laurel House is located in Allentown and fully funded by donor and volunteer services.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe opening of the Mountain Laurel House marks an important milestone for our organization, as we are now able to provide specialized services to pregnant survivors. Typically when a victim finds out she is pregnant, she will search for an exit. These women need a place to go. The Mountain Laurel House provides this safe space,\u201d says Carol Andersen, CEO, Bloom.<\/p>\n

One of Bloom for Women\u2019s two social enterprises \u2013 My Sister\u2019s Closet<\/a> \u2013 is launching its \u201cMy Little Flower Boutique\u201d on Mother\u2019s Day weekend (May 12-14) as part of its Bethlehem location to offer maternity and baby clothing (preemie \u2013 18 months) to support the women survivors in the new home and also mothers in our community. The vision is to one day open a storefront that will continue to help mothers in need and employ more survivors at Bloom.<\/p>\n

Bloom\u2019s new Lehigh Valley Program Office, located at 532 Hamilton Street, will give the Bloom staff a home base in Allentown to support participants who are transitioning back into the community as well as the ability to collaborate closely with county and federal agencies whose offices are within walking distance. This includes the Lehigh County Human Trafficking Task Force, established by the Lehigh County DAs office in early 2022. The Task Force is a multi-agency that includes homeland security, FBI, local and regional law enforcement, as well as non-profits.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs funding becomes available, we hope to expand programming in Lehigh County to include therapeutic groups inside the prison to prepare women for re-entry and assess their interest in our long-term restorative residential program,\u201d says Andersen. \u201cWomen are incredibly strong and resilient. Bloom uses a trauma-informed approach to care, rather than staff putting on the hero’s cape. We walk alongside these women as they\u00a0gain their voice and chart their own paths. These women are the heroes of their own stories,\u201d<\/p>\n

Special thanks to the generosity of Olav and Gina Sandnes, the underwriters of the Bloom fundraising Justice Revival dinner in September 2022 kicking off Bloom\u2019s \u201cWelcome Home\u201d campaign, In addition, the following companies made significant donations to the Mountain Laurel House:<\/p>\n