Mary's Shelter June Newsletter

 Vol. 4, No. 2     





Greetings!

  

 

Mary's Shelter is blessed to have so many committed people running the show.  We have those behind the scenes writing newsletters, managing databases, paying bills, taking pictures, and putting together fundraising events (thanks Eve, Mark, Lori and Lori). We have the best housemothers who give so much time and energy to the moms and children (thanks Kris and Maggie).  Our Board of Directors is a great group who are easy-going and joyful to work with. We have churches and organizations who believe in our mission and support our efforts on an ongoing basis.  We have a committed group of volunteers and donors who are extremely giving in so many ways.  We could not keep our shelters running without this team effort.  We thank God for providing this amazing group of people.  They work so hard and give so much for one reason -  they believe in the sanctity of life and they want to walk the pro-life walk.   

On behalf of all the moms and children at Mary's Shelter, thank you all so very much.  

Blessings,
Kathleen Wilson, Director 

    "It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving."     

 - Mother Teresa



 

 




Announcing....

 


soiree 2012 SAVE THE DATE 



Resident Interview:

Meet Naomi

  

Q: How did you find out about Mary's Shelter?

A: I was referred to this shelter by someone at Birthright. I went to them for assistance after having to leave my apartment with my daughter and they were kind and responsive to my need for assistance.

         

Q: Are there things about living here that you find difficult?

A: It is difficult living so far away from friends and family. I also have to travel long distances to handle some of my business. I find it difficult sometimes juggling all of the responsibilities that I have. Sometimes schedules are tight and I go from one thing to another very quickly. But I manage to get it all done. Living here teaches you about the responsibility of running a home and taking care of the children. You take away a lot of life lessons.

   

Q: Tell me a little about your other children.

A: Jordan is four years old and quite precocious. She has her own little personality and is so smart. She is very friendly and open to everyone and most people we meet like her immediately. She loves animals and loves to watch shows on Qubo where they talk about them. She will be a good big sister to her new baby brother.

   

Q: Did you ever consider having an abortion during this pregnancy?

A: I have never considered having an abortion. I have very little family and am looking forward to welcoming my son into the world. Children are a gift from God.

 

Q:  What are some of the greatest challenges you have faced?

A: There have been many challenges for me recently. Just over a year ago I lost my Mom, who was an important part of my support system. It has been difficult to find stability for myself and my daughter. Finding employment during pregnancy has also been a challenge; having money has been very hard.

  

Q: What aspects of your life are trying to change?

A: I want to be gainfully employed in a position that will pay me a living wage so that I can provide stability for myself and my children. What that means is a stable home in a safe neighborhood, enough food to eat and sufficient clothing. I also want to be in a position to ensure that the children get an excellent education so that they won't have to face some of the same challenges I have.

  

Q: What goals do you have for yourself?

A: My next goal is to deliver a happy, healthy baby boy. From there I plan to work to achieve the stability the children and I need. I plan to return to school to further my education and to land a good position in nursing where I can advance in my career.

   

Q: What place does God have in your life?

A: God plays a very important role in my life. I look to him for guidance and lean heavily on him during difficult times. I want my children to know his  word and for our family to attend church regularly. I know that God will see me through to achieving my goals and providing for my family.   

 

 

  






Locals!  Come on out to the Blue and Gray!

 






Volunteer Corner:  An Interview with Erin Cork  

 

   Q: What sort of volunteer work do you do for Mary's Shelter? 

 A: Mary's Shelter has a monthly knitting group which I and two others facilitate. We meet with the women and some times their children once a month to knit. The goal of the group is really to bring the women together for conversation more than it is for them to learn a new skill.          

 
Q: How did you first get involved with Mary's Shelter and begin volunteering?        
A: A friend of mine, who happens to be in another knitting group with me, asked me to help at the monthly knitting group at Mary's Shelter.    

Q: How do you find time to volunteer? 

A: At the time I had been asked to help I was wishing I was involved in some type of volunteer activity. Before I had been asked to help I was already feeling like I had the time. Finding time is just a matter of making my commitment a priority. 

Q: What is the best part of volunteering at Mary's Shelter? What have you learned or gained from your volunteer experience?   
 A: The best part of volunteering at Mary's Shelter is connecting with the women and their families. Watching them grow as knitters, but more importantly as parents.   

Q: What do you feel you have to offer to the residents at Mary's Shelter?
A: I bring a skill, knitting. Also an interest the women's lives. Much of what the knitting group is about is getting together as a group of women. Connecting back to the historical construction of women's social lives centered around the "sewing circle" where work was done amongst conversation. There is also consistency and accountability brought to the table. It is generally the same set of volunteers each month, making the group of volunteers consistent and reliable. There is also an incentive for bringing your knitting back with progress and we always want to know what the women have accomplished in the month. These are very simple things, but I think they are important to model for the women.

 Q: What is the best thing about Mary's Shelter?
 A: The community environment that I see with the women. They rely on and help each other like a family.


 

 




Knitting Show and Tell 

  

Our ladies (and some of their kids!) have been finishing up some knitting projects, so we thought we would show them off to you!  A little gift to all you knitters out there!

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Here's our intern Marion joining in on the knitting fun: 

 

 

Images courtesy of Ginny Foreman 




Please Join Us!



 
 









Thank You!

 


*Many thanks to the Confirmation team from St. Mary's Catholic Church under the guidance of Mrs. Rocio Atkinson.  These amazing teens not only tackled some seriously dirty jobs around the shelter, but they also brought Mother's Day gifts and cards to all of our mothers.  What a sweet group!  Thank you!





*Thanks so much to the students from St. Patrick's School who were a part of the "Hunger?  Let's Can It!" food drive.   Special thanks also to Cheryl Sweeney for organizing the events. 

*Another big thank you to Mr. Duffy from St. Patrick's Parish for his constant commitment to our moms through his steady provision of food, holiday meals and gift cards.

*Thank you once again to "The Ladybugs" for the beautiful baby baskets they put together for all the mothers at our shelters.

*Thank you so much to Debbie Busby, coordinator for Project Linus, who provides beautiful blankets so that each child at our shelter feels special!

*Major shout-out to Lt. Tuia and her amazing crew of volunteers from the U.S. Navy.  Over the course of 2 Saturdays, thy have literally transformed our shelters, inside and out!  We are seriously impressed by your tireless dedication and enviable work ethic.  We are happy to have you back anytime.  Thank you, thank you!!

*Thank you to Rita and Monika, our storage ladies, who take our storage needs seriously.  You are irreplaceable!

*Thanks to Sarah Harkins for coming down on a Monday night to show our ladies how to make their own clay beads!

*Thanks to Caroline Stewart for teaching our ladies some great yoga moves to help them through the aches and pains of pregnancy.

*Thanks to Paula Stryker for sharing your beautiful, personal testimony with our ladies.  You left them all in tears (in a good way!) with much to reflect upon. 

*How can we thank Amanda Winn enough?  She has transformed our childbirth outreach and education program.  Before she came, our c-section rate was right around 90%.  Now, it is closer to 10%.  We wish her every blessing as she approaches the birth of her third child any day now. We will miss you on your leave and anxiously await your return!  Here's a picture of Amanda from a little baby shower we threw for her:



*A huge thank you to Courtney Pellegrino, Autumn Dalton and Cathy Davis for stepping in and taking care of our ladies' doula needs while Amanda is on maternity leave.  We are so grateful to have you on board!

*As always, thank you to all our Monday Night Madness volunteers, our babysitters
, our mentors, and of course our donors!  We could not keep our program running without your ongoing support.








The Rejuvenation of the "Fulfill the Promise" Campaign 

 

 

We are very grateful to the wonderful volunteers, prayer warriors, and donors who are crucial to the survival of Mary's Shelter. With your ongoing support, we pray that this ministry will continue to foster a culture of life in our community for many years to come.

 

We hope you will consider supporting our"Fulfill the Promise" Campaign by becoming a monthly donor. With the help of our faithful benefactors, we really came a long way in 2011, but we still have many obstacles ahead of us.  Our goal is to sign up 1000 people to give $20/month.  We have almost reached 1/10 of our goal.  Please help us by spreading the word!

  

If you would like to start giving to the "Fulfill the Promise" Campaign, please visit our website at www.marysshelterva.org, or send us an email at [email protected].  

 

Thank you and may God Bless you!

  

Sincerely,

The Directors and Staff of Mary's Shelter