Remembering Nathan Blanchette

This was one of Nathan’s favorite Bible scriptures:   2 Corinthians 3:17, "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."

Nathan’s passion and desire was to make a difference in the battle against youth trafficked into the sex trade. He wanted his friends to be safe. Nathan’s family invites you to help make his dream come true with a donation to Freedom13. 

If you want to help fund Nathan’s dream you can write a check to Freedom13 and mail it to:

Freedom13

24545 Taree Dr. NE

Kingston, WA 98346

Or you can donate securely here

Donations will be used to bring awareness to youth on the dangers of sex trafficking in America. This will include workbooks for awareness workshops offered to middle and high school youth. An acknowledgement of Nathan’s dream will be included in each book.

Thank you on behalf of Nathan’s Family and Freedom13.

Pay It Forward

This year December 20^th was a very special day. It was the day we meet with the ladies of a California Pay It Forward group. We shared awareness about the issues of child trafficking in their state. They are all on board about making a difference in their communities. Our special thanks to all of them for their generous support of Freedom13.

First Human Trafficking Conviction in Kitsap

PORT ORCHARD, WASH. — Kitsap County prosecutors won their first victory in a human trafficking trial Tuesday when a jury convicted a Port Orchard man of prostituting a young woman.

The Kitsap Sun reports 34-year-old Anthony Dewayne Parker faces at least 25 years in prison when he is sentenced Jan. 13 in superior court. (11/27/2013)

Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/11/27/2917238/port-orchard-man-convicted-of.html#storylink=cpy

News from the Mom’s & More Holiday Bazaar

We met many nice people interested in learning more about the trafficking issues of our youth. We are looking forward to partnering with them in the new year. Our thanks to Evonna Clark for helping to put this event together.

Thanks Evonna

Moms and More Holiday Bazaar provided entertainment.

Sandy congratulates Cowboy Sovoie for a fantastic performance!

Directors Gene and Sandy Hill

1st Screening of the film Chosen

Thank you Bremerton Nazarene Youth Group for inviting us to share about the problem of trafficking of our youth.

Youth Pastor Ryan and part of the group.

We shared fingerprint kits. Three girls couldn’t wait to do theirs.

Freedom13 Will Be There! We will be giving away fingerprint kits, coloring books, and selling items as a fund raiser for Freedom13.

November 8-9, 2013

Gateway Fellowship, Poulsbo

Hours:    Friday 5pm-9pm, Saturday 10am-4pm 

·         Live Holiday Performances

·         Shopping

·         Silent Auction

·         Photo Booth

·         Food

·         Music

·         Fun

·         Ugly Sweater Contest!

Free Admission!

Friday, make us a part of your...

Ladies Night Out!

Police arrest 9 in sex sting

(Kitsap Sun)-"Police arrest 9 in sex sting, sweep targets human trafficking, child exploitation." Suquamish Clearwater Casino co-operated with Homeland Security, FBI, County Sheriffs, Tribal and Poulsbo Police in a sting operation targeting minor sex trafficking. Eight adult women were arrested, no minors. The male driver was arrested on drug charges and suspicion of promoting prostitution. (Oct 25, 2013)

We're at this Oct 28th

Human Trafficking Event Thursday

Come and learn how you can make a difference in the world by helping fight Human Trafficking.

This is a problem HERE, not just other places. Great information and Opportunities for involvement will be presented, with time for Q&A and chances to meet local agencies involved in fighting this terrible problem.

DATE:  Thursday, Oct 24

TIME:    7 – 8:30pm

PLACE: Munger Chapel, Gateway Fellowship, Poulsbo

FOCUS: Learn more about what can be done to fight Human Trafficking

FEATURED SPEAKER: Jennifer Roemhildt Tunehag

LOCAL GROUPS ALSO REPRESENTED: Scarlet Road, Not for Sale, Freedom13, Break Free Kitsap

Operation Day of Hope

What an awesome event, Operation Day of Hope, turned out to be. It was a privilege to be included and offer ways to protect children from harm. Families were grateful for the free fingerprint kits and coloring books. Our special thanks to Judy Moore who organized this event for Freedom13 and who volunteered to help on the day.   

We were at Pearson Fellowship Hall

Thanks to Judy Moore

Sandy checks a fingerprint candidate

Gene & Sandy Hill

Operation Day of Hope

• Dental screenings and treatment
• Medical consultation
• Legal/financial advice
• Haircuts
• Manicures
• Family photo portraits
• Groceries
• Warm winter clothing
• Social service support
• A hot meal for the whole family
• and more...

We will be at the Operation Day of Hope Saturday October 19th from 11am-2pm giving away fingerprint kits and Be a Safe Kid coloring books. It's at Gateway Fellowship, 18901 8th Ave NE, Poulsbo.

Seattle Anti-trafficking Event

Thank you Seattle Safeway Stores for partnering with Freedom13 to distribute fingerprints kits and Be a Safe Kid coloring books. The event was a big success. A special thank you to our volunteers: Judy Moore, Marsha Ball, and Florence Klein. We couldn't have done it without you!

Great job everyone,

Gene & Sandy

Team Kitsap on their way to Seattle: Marsha, Judy, Sandy, and Gene

Seattle volunteer, Florence Klein, hard at work

Gene gifting Safeway Store with fingerprint kits and coloring books for their employees 

Free Fingerprint Kits & Be a Safe Kid Coloring Books

Saturday, October 12, 11 am – 2 pm

At 3 Seattle Safeway Stores

West Seattle: 2622 California Avenue 

Wedgwood: 7340 35^th Street NE 

Rainier Valley: 3820 Rainier Avenue

 Keeping an updated fingerprint kit for your child is an essential step to bringing them home in case they ever go missing.

-     This weekend Freedom13 will partner with Safeway making available free fingerprinting kits and Be a Safe Kid coloring books.

-     Representatives from Freedom13 will be at all three Safeway stores to answer any questions you may have about protecting your children.

Thank You KIRO 7 Television

Last Night while watching KIRO 7 Eyewitness News they ran 4 items in less than 30 minutes about child abduction, child violation, and child pornography. As an organization about children trafficked into the sex trade, we appreciated they included photos and names of the perpetrators. We would like to acknowledge and thank the Seattle Police, Detectives from Washington State Patrol’s Missing and Exploited Children’s Task Force, Seattle Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, and KIRO 7 for telling the stories. See the stories:

GigHarbor man arrested, #1 downloader of Child Pornography in State

Everett man arrested in minor sex sting

Children’s musician arrested for child molestation

Fourth child luring incident in West Seattle

Want to Know More About Human Trafficking?

Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles will discuss her legislative efforts to stop or reduce human trafficking and exploitation on Northwest Now Show on Public Television KBTC.  

Upcoming Show Times
Friday, October 4	6:30 PM	-	7:00 PM
Sunday, October 6	1:30 PM	-	2:00 PM
Thursday, October 10	6:00 PM	-	6:30 PM

We Set a Record

Yes, the Kitsap Democratic Women’s Club set a record for the most attendees at their September 25^th   meeting.  It was my privilege to inform about child trafficking issues in our country, our state, and our county. We would like to thank everyone for their generosity and support of Freedom13.

Florence Klein, Sandy and President Jo Fox Burr.

Successful Safeway Event

Last Saturday we partnered with Safeway Markets giving away fingerprint kits and You Can’t Fool Me, Be a Safe Kid coloring books. Many parents showed their appreciation by thanking us for helping the children. We want to thank Brewton-Hight Farmers Insurance of Silverdale for donating the fingerprint/ID Kits and The Kitsap Community Foundation for funding the Be a Safe Kid coloring books.  A thank you for all the volunteers, Maggie, Gigi, Bernie, Judy and Dan, who helped make this event a success!

Dan presents the Bremerton Callow store manager with fingerprint kits and coloring books for the employees.

Maggie explained how fingerprinting works to an interested Dad in Silverdale.

Gigi and Judy engaged many parents giving away fingerprint kits and coloring books at the Bainbridge Island Safeway.

Back to School

As parent’s rush to get their kids ready for school, updating photos in their fingerprint kits should on the top of the list. Don’t have a fingerprint kit for your child? No problem. Freedom13 will be giving away fingerprint kits and You Can’t Fool Me, Be a Safe Kid coloring books this Saturday, September 7^th from 11 am – 2 pm at the following Safeways:

2890 NW Bucklin Hill Rd. Silverdale

253 High School Rd NE, Bainbridge Island

900 N. Callow, Bremerton

Stop by and get free kits and coloring books for all the children in your life.

Great Time at the YMCA

We were privileged to be part of this event. The children had fun everywhere they went. In our effort to protect children we distributed free fingerprint kits and free coloring books.

Cindy Stuart, Gene & Sandy Hill. Because of Cindy’s efforts Freedom13 was invited to be part of this great event. Thanks Cindy for all your help!  

Central Kitsap reporter, Seraine Page, interviewed us about child trafficking. Her article about the YMCA event will be in this Friday’s (8/9/13) newspaper.   

Look who stopped by to get information about child trafficking.     

Have a Night Out

Silverdale YMCA is having a Night Out tonight from 5-8. Drop off the kids, pickup some fingerprint kits and Be a Safe Kid coloring books at the Freedom13 booth. Then go enjoy some free time.

More Than 100 Teens Rescued

More than 100 teenagers — many of them children from broken homes — were rescued over the weekend in a sex-trafficking crackdown that swept more than 70 cities, the FBI said Monday. The youngest victim was 13 years old, the agency said. The sting resulted in the arrest of 159 “pimps” from San Francisco to Miami who were involved in the commercial exploitation of both adults and children, said Ronald Hosko, assistant director of the FBI’s criminal investigative division. For the full article and video click.. 

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/07/29/19754475-more-than-100-teens-rescued-in-weekend-sex-trafficking-raids-fbi-says?lite

Sex Offenders in Kitsap

In the August 2013 issue of the Community News an article titled, “Sex offender moves back to Kingston” included shocking statistics. “As of July 10, there are 18,277 active registered sex offenders who have registered as required and are living in Washington state. Of this number, 829 are registered with the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office as living at county addresses; 270 are registered within the city limits of the four municipalities in the county, 106 offenders are in jail or prison, and 24 are listed as being transient.” For additional information about this article go to KingstonCommunityNews.com.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You

Our thanks to DD DeNotta Seafood Company and the Kitsap Sun for their generous donation of You Can’t Fool Me! Be A Safe Kid coloring books. This coloring book is designed to be read aloud and shared with a child. It discusses the topics of safety and abduction. We are in the process of setting up events to distribute the coloring books free of charge. Be sure and check our events page frequently for details.

Grant!

We want to thank The Kitsap Community Foundation for a $4000 grant! The funds will be used for awareness, rescue, and restoration. We appreciate all the support from the foundation.