It started with a little girl in second grade who had possibly already been trafficked asking if she could go home with the reading volunteer. It progressed to fundraising with a handmade lemonade stand, and finally a decade-plus-long dream was fulfilled — a home specifically designed for young girls who had been trafficked.
Alexa James, whose name means “defender of mankind,” tried to ignore for years what she had learned about children being trafficked. She was working a regular job, paying bills and raising her own kids.
“I’ve always known I would help children in some form or fashion,” said James, who is now CEO and founder of Blanket Fort Hope. “I didn’t know how. I just kind of ignored it until that little girl came along — and I said that I can’t ignore this any longer.”
Starting this ministry meant James couldn’t help her son with college expenses. When he got a full scholarship, it was the confirmation she needed.
Then the lemonade stand her stepfather built came into play. She took it anywhere she might be able to raise even a little money for this new nonprofit, thinking it would only take a few years to realize her dream.
It took much, much longer.
The many years of raising money were spent learning — and teaching. James met all the state directors of the Department of Human Resources. She helped start the Alabama Mandate and Human Trafficking Task Force. She began working with police departments, emergency room workers, school counselors, paralegals, parents and staff in churches — “anybody who would let me do a training (session),” she said.
James was committed to having funds in hand when purchasing property for the ministry, which resulted in more waiting. But that time was filled with prayer. When land was finally bought, prayer warriors would walk over the property and pray. She found flat rocks on which to write handwritten Scriptures and add to the land. She wanted Scripture writing to continue in the home when it was safe to enter, but she found that it had already begun.
“So the builders did that. They put the first Bible verses in there, which was amazing to me that even God sent us these builders who loved Jesus with all of their hearts. There are prayer verses on the floor, on the joist, over the bedroom doors when you walk in, in the bathrooms, by the windows — they’re on almost every piece of wood under the Sheetrock in a house. Even in the tornado room, there are Scriptures in there about safety and the Lord’s hand and Psalm 91. And when you enter into the building, there’s a big Scripture written all over that floor,” James said.
Even young children participated. They drew pictures about prayer or children or God “because we wanted them to know too that what they were doing was important, and so we wanted them to be able to communicate the best they could how they loved those kids.”
‘More than a building’
Sometimes James had to wait on God’s choice for a staff member. While waiting, James learned what it would take to make a state-of-the-art home for this underserved group of girls.
Then on November 20, 2025, it finally happened. An open house was held for the Restoration Home.
Cameras are present in common areas and near the social worker’s dedicated medication refrigerator and mini refrigerators for each girl. These, along with other safety precautions, are camouflaged by the home’s beauty.
“There’s no house like this. Everybody who comes in can’t even believe it. DHR, police departments, FBI — they’re blown away. We even have policemen who come in and call me on the telephone in tears. They can’t believe what they’re seeing — and I can’t either. Some days I’m like, I can’t believe this has really happened,” James said.
Safety, dignity and stability
“When girls arrive, they often carry profound trauma,” James said. “Providing each girl with her own bedroom and bathroom helps create a sense of safety, dignity and stability during the early stages of healing. Once they step in that house, every second that there can be peace in a child’s brain is one more second toward a minute. Every minute that we can give them happiness or joy and peace is an hour, is two hours, three hours. It builds up.”
Trained professionals — medical and mental health professionals, therapists, social workers, house parents — will work with the girls as they are ready. Over time, the hope is that their brains will overcome the trauma and finally come out of the fight-or-flight zones they lived in into true peace.
Although the home is ready, “our calling requires more than a building,” said Kim Mashego, executive director of programs for Blanket Fort Hope. “Before we welcome girls into the Restoration Home, we are prayerfully seeking house parents. We need adults who are deeply called to walk alongside girls healing from trauma. This is our commitment to ensure the safety, stability and spiritual care of each girl who walks through the doors of our Restoration Home.”
This is just one more step with a little more waiting before James can begin taking in the girls she dreamed of helping so many years ago — starting with a homemade lemonade stand and a little girl who needed help with reading.
To learn more about Blanket Fort Hope and its upcoming gala, go to https://blanketforthope.org/. If interested in discussing the role of house parents, call 205–840–9411.
Upcoming film portrays harsh reality of trafficking and healing that’s possible
“Still Hope,” a movie from Pixels of Hope Studios and Studio 523, is playing in theaters Feb. 5–9. This faith-based movie about sex trafficking follows a teenager named Hope who was lured into a trap where she was kidnapped and forced into prostitution.
“It highlights the bravery of women and men who have endured sex trafficking and the courageous work of recovery. That’s why this film is so important,” said Kathrine Lee, co-founder and CEO of Pure Hope Foundation, a nonprofit organization mobilizing action against the sex trafficking industry. It played a pivotal role in the real-life stories behind the film.
Based on true events, “the powerful story of these women portrayed through the character of Hope shows that healing and forgiveness are possible,” said Richie Johns, producer and filmmaker with Studio 523 and director of “Still Hope.”
“Our prayer is that ‘Still Hope’ will give a voice and platform to the courageous individuals who have personally walked this journey and become a rallying cry for those who are boldly standing with them,” Johns said.
‘Raw and honest’
“Still Hope” is a raw and honest portrayal of some aspects of human trafficking as well as the healing that’s possible. It also displays the power of prayer.
The film doesn’t stop with Hope’s journey into the hell of this life. It shows her journey out of it. While she was with her captors, she was forcibly addicted to drugs. She was abused — not just sexually, but physically, emotionally and mentally. The faith that she grew up with was completely shaken.
Trying to physically escape just brought more pain and confinement. The only way she could escape was through drugs so they became a choice. This added a new level to the addiction she was already experiencing.
Even after her rescue, the nightmare wasn’t over. Her family was incredibly excited to have her back and wanted to keep her close.
It took time. She had to detoxify from the drugs. Her family finally recognized the value of letting her go to a residential home for survivors of trafficking. It took a lot of specialized therapy using everything from horses to gardening to cooking with trained, experienced staff.
This healing wasn’t continuous. There were breakthroughs and then setbacks. It wasn’t quick or easy. Many, many tears were cried but over time, they turned into more and more smiles.
Then, through her time at a group home specifically designed for girls like her — much like Blanket Fort Hope’s Restoration Home — she eventually found healing and hope.
“Your voice and your support matters,” said Natalie Grant, co-founder of Hope for Justice, nine-time Grammy Award nominee and supporter of “Still Hope.” “I want to encourage viewers to join this important and courageous work of healing — not just for each individual impacted by sex trafficking but for the dedicated advocates guiding those who are ready to receive support.”
For more information about ways to see “Still Hope,” go to https://stillhopemovie.com/.
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