Tamara Rohret, left, and Knight of Columbus Chris Prizler, right, members of St. Peter Parish-Cosgrove’s Social Justice Committee, presented a check to Christine Martin, director of Birthright of Iowa City, last month.
For The Catholic Messenger
From Mother’s Day to Father’s Day, Catholics from St. Mary Parish-Oxford and St. Peter Parish-Cosgrove raised money for Birthright International’s Iowa City location. Members of the parishes filled empty baby bottles with cash, collectively raising more than $1,600. The parishes’ Knights of Columbus Council, Altar and Rosary Societies and Social Justice Committees organized the fundraiser.
The parishes received an additional $300 from the Knights of Columbus’ ASAP (Aid and Support After Pregnancy) program. Through ASAP, for every $500 a council or assembly donates to a qualifying non-profit pregnancy resource center or maternity home (up to $2,000), the Supreme Council issues a $100 grant to the same qualifying organization.
Birthright is a pro-life pregnancy support service with hundreds of centers throughout Canada, the United States and Africa, according to the organization’s website. Women experiencing an unplanned pregnancy in the Iowa City area can contact Birthright for a free pregnancy test, emotional support, diapers and clothing. Upon learning about a woman’s needs, volunteers can offer referrals to other local services and resources.
Monetary donations help Birthright pay for advertising, outreach, pregnancy tests and utilities. “Having community support means a lot,” said Christine Martin, director of Birthright of Iowa City and a member of St. Mary Parish, also in Iowa City. “We can show that support to the women we see.”
