Redeeming Hope, a nonprofit organization, held their Blue Heart Dinner at the Boone Tavern Saturday night, and the program was quite educational and informative. Zinna Hensley, a Social Worker with the Berea Police Department, introduced Lisa Foster to the guests in attendance. Lisa shared her story of the loss of her daughter Jordan and explained a friend approached her about working with Redeeming Hope. Jordan was on the Human Trafficking Task Force as a prosecuting attorney in Northern Kentucky at the time of her death.
The Church on the Rock gave Redeeming Hope 5 acres on U.S. 25 between Berea and Richmond, and the nonprofit plans to build a 6,000 square foot home for girls 14 to 18 years-old. The home will house 12 girls who will be home schooled in the beginning. Mrs. Foster plans to build a memorial to Jordan by Silver Creek behind the Church on the Rock where the teenagers can reflect and find hope.
The invitation for the dinner explained Redeeming Hope’s vital mission “to rescue, rehabilitate, and empower survivors of human trafficking.” The nonprofit’s website (redeeminghopeky.org) says “Redeeming Hope works to provide freedom, hope, redemption, and restoration for sexually exploited teenage girls.”
Officer Robert Hess with the Richmond Police Department also spoke to the guests about the growth of sexually abused girls and human trafficking in Madison County. In addition, Barbara Hampton, an ICU nurse, discussed how she was sexually abused by a family member and non-family member. Mrs. Hampton expressed how she found peace after the birth of her first child.
Next, Sarah Foley told her story how she discovered her husband had sexually abused her daughter when the FBI showed up at their home. Mrs. Foley stated that her daughter was in denial for several months, and today is a beauty pageant contestant after “breaking free.” Sarah’s former husband is serving a 30-year prison term today.
The nonprofit is hopeful to break ground this summer and would love to have the house operational in Spring 2025. Redeeming Hope is working with Mulberry Builders to construct their facility. Redeeming Hope also plans to work with Child Protective Services and the Madison County Schools on educating young girls about human trafficking and sexual abusive behavior.
Other women working with Redeeming Hope are Jennifer Rose, the administrative assistant at the Church on the Rock; Shanna Sharber, a Pediatric Nurse and Jordan’s friend since kindergarten; Vicky Primrose, a stay-at-home mother, and Linda Blackburn, a retired social worker in the local school district.
