The Beginning by Elaine Blankmeyer
In the Spring of 2009, a policeman in our church made our pastor aware that child sex trafficking had become a problem in Oakland. Our pastor, Paul Wilson, asked my husband Jon, with a small team of others, to see if they could develop a program to help rescue American girls who were victims of this terrible crime. We had never even heard of such a thing happening in the US and especially in our own area.
Shortly after this, we were in Portland Oregon for our son-in-law’s ordination ceremony. While in Portland, Jon looked at a used car he had found on the internet. It was a good deal and we decided to buy it and drive it home. Along the way Jon mentioned that he wanted to stop in the Redding area. He wanted to check out a place that Paul Wilson had mentioned might be a facility we could use to place trafficked kids. We had a very difficult time finding it because it was way out in the forest and very remote. The roads were bumpy and winding and we kept getting lost. Jon was frustrated and ready to give up but I said if we’ve gone this far we have to find it.
We finally found the right cutoff that took us to the ranch. It was June and very hot and the place seemed deserted. Just then a woman came out of the office to ask what we wanted. She told us that the ranch was now a boarding school for troubled teen girls. Jon said, well, I guess that won’t work for us because we were looking to rent a property to provide a loving place for a child sex trafficking rescue program. At that point she became interested and said the man who ran the boarding school had mentioned to her a few weeks earlier that he was interested also in getting involved in some way to help trafficked kids. She then gave us his contact information. Jon called him the next day after we arrived back in the Bay Area and arranged to meet back at the ranch a few days later.
I was initially reluctant about this whole venture because the men who traffic these girls are ruthless and dangerous. In fact, an Oakland pastor had recently been shot trying to rescue a girl. However, it wasn’t long before we were organized to help and proceeded to begin taking girls. As soon as I met our first girls my fears diminished. About this time a frontpage article mentioning Jon by name appeared in the Oakland Tribune about our efforts to help these children even though no one had ever even interviewed us. Again, I felt fearful!
As I became part of the endeavor, visiting the boarding scchool and having the girls come down to stay in our home from time to time, I embraced the ministry wholeheartedly. None of my fears ever came to fruition. God has watched over and protected us. It is a wonderful feeling to be even a small part of a ministry like New Day for Children that is so desperately needed. It is a privilege and a joy to be used by God in this way.
Shortly after this, we were in Portland Oregon for our son-in-law’s ordination ceremony. While in Portland, Jon looked at a used car he had found on the internet. It was a good deal and we decided to buy it and drive it home. Along the way Jon mentioned that he wanted to stop in the Redding area. He wanted to check out a place that Paul Wilson had mentioned might be a facility we could use to place trafficked kids. We had a very difficult time finding it because it was way out in the forest and very remote. The roads were bumpy and winding and we kept getting lost. Jon was frustrated and ready to give up but I said if we’ve gone this far we have to find it.
We finally found the right cutoff that took us to the ranch. It was June and very hot and the place seemed deserted. Just then a woman came out of the office to ask what we wanted. She told us that the ranch was now a boarding school for troubled teen girls. Jon said, well, I guess that won’t work for us because we were looking to rent a property to provide a loving place for a child sex trafficking rescue program. At that point she became interested and said the man who ran the boarding school had mentioned to her a few weeks earlier that he was interested also in getting involved in some way to help trafficked kids. She then gave us his contact information. Jon called him the next day after we arrived back in the Bay Area and arranged to meet back at the ranch a few days later.
I was initially reluctant about this whole venture because the men who traffic these girls are ruthless and dangerous. In fact, an Oakland pastor had recently been shot trying to rescue a girl. However, it wasn’t long before we were organized to help and proceeded to begin taking girls. As soon as I met our first girls my fears diminished. About this time a frontpage article mentioning Jon by name appeared in the Oakland Tribune about our efforts to help these children even though no one had ever even interviewed us. Again, I felt fearful!
As I became part of the endeavor, visiting the boarding scchool and having the girls come down to stay in our home from time to time, I embraced the ministry wholeheartedly. None of my fears ever came to fruition. God has watched over and protected us. It is a wonderful feeling to be even a small part of a ministry like New Day for Children that is so desperately needed. It is a privilege and a joy to be used by God in this way.
Our History
New Day for Children began in 2009 as a response to the problem of child sex trafficking in the United States. A varied and talented group of individuals from the San Francisco Bay Area put their heads and hearts together to brainstorm a way to help these victimized children. A great debt of thanks is owed to the following people who were instrumental in the early stages of getting New Day off the ground:
Working and collaborating with community partners, our founder Jon Blankmeyer, assisted by his lovely wife Elaine and his intrepid sidekick Kathy Wilson, worked tirelessly to create a residential and educational haven for girls seeking a way out of commercial sexual exploitation. In the spring of 2009, Jon and Elaine visited a remote site in Northern California to pursue this dream, and found another ministry, Together Freedom, who had the same vision to care for trafficked kids, literally unpacking their boxes! A decision was made to join forces and do this needed work together as partners. Tiffany and Blaize, the couple who oversee the work at Together Freedom, are masters at connecting with, and intuiting the needs of traumatized teens.
Over the past 11 years most New Day supported girls have been housed with Together Freedom, but New Day has also assisted girls in traditional boarding school settings, a restorative ranch in Montana, and a home for survivors 18 years and up, which New Day operated independently in Napa for a couple of years. We are now thrilled to partner with programs in Colorado, California, Oregon, Florida and two programs in Texas. We are nearing the “100 girls cared for” milestone, as we have supported 98 girls! On average, each girl stays in her program for 15 months, but she is welcome to stay longer. Two thirds of the families we’ve worked with have been from California, and the remainder from states nationwide.
Four years ago, Jon entered his well deserved retirement, and Sharon Wood stepped into his shoes as Executive Director. For many years, Jon did this labor of love as a volunteer, and was always in a part time capacity (although it often didn’t feel that way to Elaine!) Having Sharon at the helm full time has been a real boost in moving New Day into a fruitful season. A gifted team grew over these 11 years, which now consists of Laura, Kathy, Stacy, Kat, Jillian and Angelina; all are part time staffers with the exception of Sharon. We are all committed to the task of restoring and loving on as many young trafficking victims as possible - the need is as great today as when we started! As always, we can only do this lifesaving work with the service providers, faith communities, businesses, civic groups, law enforcement, community leaders and individuals like YOU who make it all possible through sacrificial giving, volunteering and advocacy!
Working and collaborating with community partners, our founder Jon Blankmeyer, assisted by his lovely wife Elaine and his intrepid sidekick Kathy Wilson, worked tirelessly to create a residential and educational haven for girls seeking a way out of commercial sexual exploitation. In the spring of 2009, Jon and Elaine visited a remote site in Northern California to pursue this dream, and found another ministry, Together Freedom, who had the same vision to care for trafficked kids, literally unpacking their boxes! A decision was made to join forces and do this needed work together as partners. Tiffany and Blaize, the couple who oversee the work at Together Freedom, are masters at connecting with, and intuiting the needs of traumatized teens.
Over the past 11 years most New Day supported girls have been housed with Together Freedom, but New Day has also assisted girls in traditional boarding school settings, a restorative ranch in Montana, and a home for survivors 18 years and up, which New Day operated independently in Napa for a couple of years. We are now thrilled to partner with programs in Colorado, California, Oregon, Florida and two programs in Texas. We are nearing the “100 girls cared for” milestone, as we have supported 98 girls! On average, each girl stays in her program for 15 months, but she is welcome to stay longer. Two thirds of the families we’ve worked with have been from California, and the remainder from states nationwide.
Four years ago, Jon entered his well deserved retirement, and Sharon Wood stepped into his shoes as Executive Director. For many years, Jon did this labor of love as a volunteer, and was always in a part time capacity (although it often didn’t feel that way to Elaine!) Having Sharon at the helm full time has been a real boost in moving New Day into a fruitful season. A gifted team grew over these 11 years, which now consists of Laura, Kathy, Stacy, Kat, Jillian and Angelina; all are part time staffers with the exception of Sharon. We are all committed to the task of restoring and loving on as many young trafficking victims as possible - the need is as great today as when we started! As always, we can only do this lifesaving work with the service providers, faith communities, businesses, civic groups, law enforcement, community leaders and individuals like YOU who make it all possible through sacrificial giving, volunteering and advocacy!
Special Thanks To:
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John Kenyon -provided the property with an annual lease of $1 per year
Pastor Paul Wilson and First Covenant Church of Oakland MISSSEY Nola Brantley - Nola Brantley Speaks BAATC (Bay Area Anti Trafficking Coalition) - Brian Wo and Betty Ann Hagenau Oakland, CA Police Chief Howard Jordan OPD Captain Paul Figueroa Natalie Figueroa |
Donna Schumacher
Alameda County DA’s Office - DA Nancy O’Malley Assistant DA Sharmin Bock, HEAT (Human Exploitation and Trafficking) Unit Women Ministries of the Evangelical Covenant Church and Ruth Hill - Seed money for startup Phil Ludwig - Teen Rescue Jim and Lynda Hampton, Mickey and Patricia Hayes - Horse Camp Ashley Bryant of 3Strands |