Brandi Meza calls herself a survivor. She is a former prostitute who worked on Union Avenue for months. During her time on the streets she was kidnapped, raped and beat several times.
Until one day she met pastor Doug Bennett of Magdalene Hope Ministries.
His organization aims to help women get off the streets. His team hands out goody bags to girls on Union, filled with hygiene products, food, and a Bible.
Bennett says that trafficking and prostitution go up every time there's a big event in town, including the Kern County Fair.
These next two weeks Bennett will be doubling his efforts on Union to save as many girls as he can. Bennett’s team will double and will pass out twice as many backpacks.
This year Brandi will be coming along. She's been sober for 4 months now and has since been baptized. She wants girls to know that there is hope and they can change their lives.
Bennett wants the community to know the problem is real in Kern county and hopes more girls will welcome his help.
If you need help or know someone that needs help, you can call Magdalene Hope Ministries at 661-808-HOPE (4673) or visit their website: http://www.magdalenehope.org.
