While all of us may not have the experience of having our own pet, most of us can appreciate the love one has for a beloved, and faithful animal companion. Bella is our "foster" dog who has spent the last 18 months at Jasmine House. She came to us at a time when we needed a little more love and was a welcome distraction to the restlessness we experienced at the onset of the pandemic. While we thought we were rescuing her, as you'll learn from Bloom graduate Maria's* perspective, Bella ended up rescuing us. |
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Written by Maria*, a Bloom graduate
Bella arrived at Jasmine House on the evening of March 24th, 2020, right in the beginning of the pandemic. All of us were very excited to be fostering a rescue dog, but some ladies in the house were concerned about who was going to clean up her poop!
When Bella first came, she seemed a little crazy. She paced back and forth throughout the house, searching wild for something. She also puked on our carpet in the living room within the first hour of arrival. She was anxious but we could tell she was happy.
We were told that she was 9 years old and blind in one eye. All of us laughed at this because we knew she belonged here at Jasmine House. Bella had a lot of flaws and was a little broken, just like us. This one broken-eared, blind, and anxious dog fit in perfectly! To us she was a “precious gift from above”. She had a rough life before coming to Bloom and had been abandoned and neglected, living in a car with her last family.
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Welcome Rebekah Fritchman
We would like to welcome Rebekah Fritchman as our new manager of My Sister's Closest. She is excited to join the organization and help My Sister's Closet grow and be successful while helping those in need.
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Lehigh Valley Anti-Trafficking Week: November 6-13, 2021 |
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November 6
2:00-4:00 p.m.
Voices of Survivors Project
Moravian University
November 8
11:00 a.m.
Online Forum:
Empowering Survivors in the
Fight Against Sex Trafficking
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November 9
5:30-6:30 p.m.
Candlelight Vigil
Rose Garden Park, Bethlehem
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November 10
5:00-7:00 p.m.
Art Mixer
ArtsQuest
November 12
7:30 a.m.
Survivor's Awards Breakfast
Laros Estate, Bethlehem
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Lehigh Valley Anti-Trafficking Awareness week is a seven-day awareness campaign, held during the first week of November. The campaign provides an opportunity to raise awareness of human trafficking and modern slavery.
There will be numerous events throughout the week. Check out the LVAT Facebook page for more information:
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Come enjoy time crafting your holiday wreath or centerpiece with us at one of our upcoming DIY workshops. Invite your family and friends! All proceeds benefit Bloom. |
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Save the Date: May 7, 2022
Mark your calendars!
Our Annual Kentucky Derby Fundraiser will be
Kentucky Derby Saturday:
May 7, 2022.
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“This is not a job, it is my ‘heart’ and what gets me up in the morning. I live to help others; and having a role in a woman’s journey to healing and living a healthy life is what Bloom is all about, and is why I choose and love working here.”
This month we’d like to recognize our Director of Programs, Lorna Clause, who has spent much of her professional lifetime helping women gain the tools they need to escape abuse and to make their way toward independence from oppression.
“I have been involved with Bloom since its inception, I met Carol Andersen (CEO) in 2007 while I was the Director of Special Initiatives for Turning Point. I immediately became involved because I connected to Bloom’s mission to help and support women who had experienced domestic violence and trauma, but lived in an area where victims are isolated and have no access to services.”
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Our work, and the hope of the women we serve, is heavily dependent on the financial contributions of the community, foundations, and sponsors. Please consider supporting Bloom with your tax-deductible gift.
In addition to one-time donations, we also offer four monthly giving options:
- $29/Month - Wellness: Welcome Basket and Essentials
- $59/Month - Safety: Group Counseling, Secure Housing, Medical, & Dental
- $89/Month - Healing: Trauma-informed Staff, One-to-One Counseling
- $150/Month: A Night of Sanctuary
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HAPPENING AROUND BLOOM... |
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We're Hiring!
Are you looking to help make a difference in our community? Do you have a love for people? We are looking for a sales associate to work Monday through Friday from 9:30-2:15 and occasional help 2:15-6:15 at $9 an hour.
Please contact us at (610) 866-5715 if you're interested in setting up an interview!
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October 20,
November 3 and
November 17 at 9 a.m.
Shop with us virtually on
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Glass Mosaic Workshop Series
November 16 at 6:00 p.m.
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Join us for a glass mosaic workshop series and create a beautiful 12x12 piece of art. Each guest designs, shapes and applies their glass and finishes it off with grout and polishing. You bring the design or choose from one of ours. All supplies included - $95 per person (recommended for ages 14 and up since we will be cutting glass) |
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As we welcome new survivors into our homes on a regular basis and are in constant need of restocking essential items for them, we have created an Amazon Wish List. The online list makes it easy for you to pick out items that our survivors need while staying in our homes and have them sent directly to Bloom. All donations are greatly appreciated. We ask that when you make a donation to please include your name in a gift message so that we can properly thank you for your donations. |
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Do you frequently shop on Amazon? Why not make a difference with each of your purchases? Simply choose "Truth For Women" (we are working to update this to Bloom) as your organization of choice on Amazon Smile and a portion of all purchases will be donated to Bloom. |
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Bloom is a non-profit organization with the mission of providing sanctuary and a continuum of care to heal, empower and employ women survivors of sex trafficking. As part of its mission, Bloom operates a 24-hour care emergency stabilization home, a two-year residential program, and an independent living transitional home in the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania. 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’s upscale, resale boutique, My Sister’s Closet, based in Bethlehem, Pa., provides financial support for the organization.
Bloom
3400 Bath Pike, Suite 103
Bethlehem, PA 18017
610-866-5755
info@bloomforwomen.org
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