Vineyard-set Santa Rosa benefit supports survivors of human trafficking

Local wine, enticing auctions and stories of survival highlighted a Jan. 27 event at Balletto Vineyards in Santa Rosa hosted by a local nonprofit fighting human trafficking.

Around 110 people attended the second annual fundraiser for Santa Rosa-based Redemption House of the Bay Area, collectively raising approximately $20,000 through ticket sales and auctions, according to board president Elizabeth Baker.

Tickets were $150.

Guests first sipped Balletto wines before enjoying hors’ d’oeuvres and dinner of chicken piccata, risotto, grilled vegetables, green salad and focaccia from Santa Rosa’s Sonoma County Catering Company.

In addition to testimonials from survivors of human trafficking, the evening also featured a keynote address by Chris Castillo, who recently retired as executive director of Santa Rosa nonprofit Verity, which serve survivors of sexual assault and abuse.

A silent auction featured items donated by local businesses and artists. The evening’s live auction featured a private dinner hosted by Windsor gin purveyors Sipsong and Geyserville restaurant Catelli’s.

Money raised will go toward operating Redemption House of the Bay Area’s recently opened Santa Rosa office, where the nonprofit will hold weekly and bi-weekly support group meetings for those who’ve been trafficked. The office also serves as a base of operations for volunteers, Baker said.

Organization volunteers distribute purses to people living on the streets of Santa Rosa and San Francisco filled with toiletries, blankets and information on how to get help if they are being trafficked. The nonprofit also helps survivors by providing food vouchers and plane tickets to help survivors get home.

For more information, go to redemptionhouseofthebayarea.org.