Bloom for Women Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides housing and resources to women survivors of sex trafficking, recently announced the opening of ‘Mountain Laurel House,’ a unique mother and baby care place, as well as the new social enterprise ‘My Little Flower Boutique.’

Bloom highlighted on its LinkedIn profile:

Bloom is blooming! We are excited to share that the Mountain Laurel House for pregnant survivors and their babies is being lived in. We are so grateful for everyone who has helped us make this home a beautiful place for these brave mothers and their precious babies!

About Bloom

Bloom offers services to help victims transition to a better life, including emergency response, a two-year residential program, services for pregnant survivors, and more actions that help women heal and start anew.

As part of its mission, the organization operates five homes in the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania, including this new addition.

“The 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,” pointed out through a press release Carol Andersen, Bloom CEO.

Home and Business

Mountain Laurel House, which is located in Allentown and fully funded by donor and volunteer services, is noted for offering a unique setting to house pregnant survivors of sex trafficking, exploitation and addiction.

Through Bloom's two-year residential program, mothers (mothers of a child under the age of three) have a safe space to heal, deliver and care for their baby.

In addition, one of Bloom for Women's two social enterprises, ‘My Sister's Closet,’ launched last weekend ‘My Little Flower Boutique,’ an initiative offering maternity and baby clothing (up to 18 months) to support surviving women in the new home and also to the mothers of these communities.

“Women 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 gain their voice and chart their own paths. These women are the heroes of their own stories,” added Andersen. 

Acknowledgments 

The organization especially appreciated the collaboration of Olav and Gina Sandnes, the sponsors of Bloom's Justice Revival fundraising dinner in September 2022 that kicked off Bloom's “Welcome Home” campaign. In addition, the following companies made significant donations to Mountain Laurel House:

• Air Products made a significant financial donation for house programming and the living room
• Allentown Appliance donated the washer and dryer
• American Fence & Flag, Inc. donated fencing and the installation around the front porch
• Erwin Forrest Builders donated materials for the kitchen
• Lezzer Lumber donated materials for the kitchen
• Wellborn Cabinetry donated materials for the kitchen

“Bloom’s 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,” underlined Bloom, noting that the task force is a multi-agency that includes homeland security, FBI, local and regional police, as well as non-profit organizations.