our mission
Providing sanctuary and a continuum of care to heal, empower and employ survivors of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation.
our vision
A lifelong community of hope, healing and freedom.
our faith
Bloom is a faith-based organization rooted in the Christian tradition.
Survivors do not have to be Christian or become Christian to take advantage of Bloom’s services and the services or quality of care that a survivor receives does not depend on spiritual beliefs.
We provide a pathway to faith for those who choose.
Bloom believes that faith and a spiritual life can be part of the healing process. Bloom is guided by, and acts upon the values and principles that are the bedrock of our Christian beliefs. We offer unconditional love. We believe that every individual is unique and deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Our purpose is to serve others with empathy and compassion and without judgement. We strive for justice and equality for all.
our organization
In early 2021, two non-profit organizations (Truth For Women and Bloom Bangor), both dedicated to empowering survivors of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation in the Lehigh Valley, came together as one (Bloom for Women) to become a stronger force in the fight against sex trafficking in our community.
Together as one, Bloom offers sanctuary and a continuum of care to heal, empower and employ survivors of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation. As a faith-based non-profit, Bloom empowers survivors to heal and create a new future through its emergency response, its two-year residential program, pregnant and parenting services and its independent living housing.
Bloom follows the model of the remarkably successful Thistle Farms program in Nashville, Tenn. and is part of the Thistle Farms National Network of sister communities, joining almost 60 other sister agencies across the U.S. Bloom is also a member of the National Trafficking Sheltered Alliance, which is a network of providers serving survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Truth for Women’s History:
Truth for Women was originally founded in 1999 to cultivate a spiritually healthy community by building a vibrant network of women from every social, economic, and denominational background who would share strengths, resources, and information that would help women understand and fulfill God’s purpose for their lives. Volunteer and community leader, Sally Hall, galvanized these dedicated women and resources from many churches in the Lehigh Valley to launch what was originally The Women’s Center.
Incorporated in 2004, Truth for Women offered three distinct services: networking, a women’s center, and a resale boutique. The strong network continued to grow to include support from a large number of collaborative organizations, as well as individuals, who came together to share strengths, resources, and information to fulfill their mission of providing sanctuary and emergency stabilization to survivors of sex trafficking.
This network helped Truth For Women to support The Women’s Center of the Lehigh Valley that opened to provide a resource and safe haven where women would be treated with honor and respect and would offer them help, hope, and healing. This facility, The Heather House (formerly known as the Truth Home), continues to offer a safe haven for women and provides care for sexually exploited women. The upscale resale boutique, My Sister’s Closet, first opened its doors in 2008 to help fund the ministries of Truth for Women and continues to be a source for funding for Bloom and employment opportunities for our survivors.
Bloom Bangor’s History:
Launched in 2016, Bloom was modeled after the successful Thistle Farms Nashville program that was founded in 1997. The programs were designed not just to help a subculture of women, but to help change the culture itself. The organization stands in solidarity with women who are recovering from sexual abuse, violence and life on the streets, and who have paid dearly for a culture that buys and sells women like commodities.
Bloom Bangor, which is now named the Jasmine House, is a two-year residential housing program with a community-based motto of “love heals” and named after the first woman graduate. Bloom Bangor helps residents to live honest, sober and self-sufficient lives and provides them with educational and vocational opportunities. Bloom fosters self-understanding through personal and spiritual growth counseling; life-skills building and maintenance education; access to medical and dental care; opportunities to work toward economic self-sufficiency through Bloom Creative Studio and other business partners.
Bloom Bangor’s programs advocate living gracefully in community with one another. New residents are given a key and are offered the necessary resources to maintain recovery, heal from childhood wounds, become physically healthy and find employment. Residents, graduates, staff and volunteers share daily tasks, offer hospitality, build upon each other’s strengths, and provide compassionate, disciplined support.
building the bridge for hope
“Building the Bridge for Hope” is a deeply personal reflection by Bloom CEO Carol Andersen on her friendship with a woman named “Hope”, whose life was marked by cycles of trafficking, addiction, and incarceration. Through Hope’s story, Carol shares how witnessing the gaps in systems meant to help survivors inspired her to create Bloom-offering long-term, trauma-informed housing, community and care. The article is both a tribute to Hope and a call to action for systematic change so that every survivor has the chance to heal, rebuild and thrive.
