May you shine the light of Christ in the New Year!
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National Slavery & Human Trafficking Prevention Month... |
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January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month! On January 11, as part of the Department of Homeland Security's Blue Campaign, our community wore #blueforbloom to help raise awareness for this horrific and growing crime.
The U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline saw a nearly 20% increase in the number of victims and survivors directly contacting the hotline from 2018 to 2019, according to Polaris, the nonprofit that runs the hotline for victims and survivors.
COVID-19 certainly hasn't improved the situation. Online recruitment for sex trafficking in the U.S. has seen a steep increase during the pandemic. Other factors caused by the pandemic, such as economic instability, further increase someone's vulnerability to trafficking.
Trafficking is happening everywhere, including right here in the Lehigh Valley. We need everyone to join in this fight to eliminate sex trafficking today so it is not your daughter or loved one tomorrow.
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Visit our website and go to the "Get Involved" page to learn more! |
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New Year, New Beginnings... |
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We recently moved our Bloom offices to a more spacious location providing our growing staff with a central location to more easily collaborate with each other, our board and our many volunteers in order
to fulfill our mission.
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Help Wanted:
Volunteers to help us move
Large moving truck
if you can help.
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Over $60,000 was raised for our 2021 End of Year fundraising campaign! While we did not reach our goal, we are filled with gratitude to all of YOU who gave to Bloom’s year end giving campaign!
The women who come to Bloom are so deserving of excellent care, safe employment and ongoing support as they do the hard work of rebuilding their lives.
Because of YOU, the women survivors we serve have HOPE for a new future and the opportunity to HEAL and CHANGE their stories forever! THANK YOU!
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Announcing our Bloom Monthly Prayer Zoom |
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Starting in February, Susan Lubbe will lead our Bloom Monthly Prayer Zoom, which is an opportunity to pray for the staff, residents, as well as our 4 homes and social enterprises. We will also pray for the women still held in the grips of slavery and oppression.
Each month will follow a scriptural theme (i.e. love, joy, peace) and participants are encouraged to pray God's Word. All requests are to be kept in strictest confidence.
The sessions will take place on Zoom from 7:00-8:00 p.m. the second Monday evening of the month: Feb 14, Mar 14, Apr 11, May 9, June 13, July 11, and so on.
Feel free to email us with any questions.
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Save the Date: May 7, 2022 |
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Find your finest hats and most stylish bowties and save the date for the second annual Kentucky Derby party hosted by Bloom at the beautiful Petersell 1808 Barn on May 7, 2022. The event will feature a live broadcast of the derby and bidding on your favorite horse, southern fare, refreshing mint juleps and live music. Please join us to make this fundraiser another successful and fun event!
Sponsorship details and registration information are now available on our website.
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To start off the New Year we are pleased to introduce you to Bloom Case Manager, Ashley Caravello. In addition to her expertise and training in her field and her deep devotion to helping others, Ashley brings to her work here at Bloom a very unique perspective, one not normally held by our other case managers. You see, Ashley has, herself, been able to turn her life around as a result of being a former resident at Bloom and being on the receiving end of Bloom’s healing and restorative programs, and she says she feels blessed to now be able to pay it forward and guide other trafficking survivors through those same programs.
Ashley explains: “I first became aware of the mission of Bloom in 2017, when I was desperate for help. My aunt knew of the program, thought it would be a good fit for me, and suggested I apply. I lived in the Jasmine House, formerly known as Bloom House, for 18 months, where I was able to work in the art studio, heal from my past and grow as a woman in recovery.”
Ashley has held several positions with Bloom since 2017. “While living in Jasmine House, I was employed as staff, then studio manager in the Bloom art studio. After living in the home for 18 months, I stayed on as Manager of Bloom Creative Studio and took on a Recovery Peer Support position. In August 2020, I transitioned to Residential Support Specialist for the Heather House, formerly known as the Truth Home. I came to my current position of Case Manager for the Jasmine and Lilac Homes in the Spring of 2021.”
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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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Moving Sale
All clothing is 50% off!
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January 26 at 9 a.m.
Shop with us virtually on
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We continue to welcome
donations while we move. Fall and winter clothing
donations will be accepted
until the end of January.
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Our studio is accepting party and event reservations and is open for shopping in our gift area,
as well as drop in visits
Tuesday - Thursday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
and other days by appointments.
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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 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. 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
1425 Mountain Drive North
Bethlehem, PA 18015
610-866-5755
info@bloomforwomen.org
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