Ways you can help 1st Way reach out to Mothers and save the unborn

Just a few announcements!

1st Way always needs diapers, especially size 4 and 5, and especially now when we are just about out. When we provide diapers for poor women who have no other means to get them, we're doing something very special. These women become comfortable with 1st Way and get to know us as a safe and welcoming place. If they have another unplanned pregnancy, they are more likely to talk to us about their concerns and we are more likely to be of influence.

Offering diapers does a lot more than help moms with a day-to-day necessity for their babies. Offering diapers is often the beginning of a long-term relationship of our nurturing new mothers and any future children they may consider aborting.

Petition- 
Outside the masses this weekend at St. Mary's, petitions were available to sign for no taxpayer funding for abortion. Why is this a concern?

Nearly half of abortions are taxpayer funded- approximately 1.75 million dollars a year.

Oregon is one of only 13 states to require taxpayers to fund other people’s abortions, without restrictions, by court order.

Do you want your tax money going for this? Do you want to pay for abortions? This is your chance to do something about it!

Stop Preaching to the Choir
All over Facebook, I see articles and memes that find resonance with others in the pro-life community. We like and share them, yes. But, this is often an insular and non-evangelical practice. This article describes the types of women who REALLY need to hear our message, and how we can help them hear our message, so we don't just circulate the same news among ourselves, "liking" them all day to nobody else's benefit.

There are so many "little" things you can do that mean a lot. Find what suits your style and resources. And always pray a lot!

1st Way appreciates your prayers, support, donations and love. Thanks for joining with us to protect the unborn.

If you haven't already, please "like" our Facebook page. Even if you don't live in our area, this blog keeps you up to date on news in the pro-life community. Thanks!  

1st Way "Tour"- Lots of Layettes!

Putting together layettes is one of the most fun activities for volunteers at 1st Way to do!

A layette is a  bag with special supplies that women take to the hospital as soon as they go into labor. 1st Way gives layettes to new mothers who visited us when they were not sure if they were pregnant and who decided afterward to give birth to their babies. This is 1st Way's special way to welcome their newborn to the world. What do we put in the layettes? 

Layettes usually have the same sorts of things, if we have them in stock at any given time. As seen above, we try to include a quilt and a receiving blanket. We get some really nice blankets! The boxes on the bottom shelf contain diapers.

We include newborn diapers and wipes and little containers of baby powder and lotion. Often, we don't have baby powder and lotion. These items can be picked up for $1 each at stores like Walmart in the "travel" section. We always welcome those donations!

 

Take a look at the picture above. What you see here on the shelves are blankets. In the baskets and boxes are things like diapers, wipes, baby hats and booties. When we have baby hats and booties donated, they also go in the layettes. These are also great donations! (hint, hint!)

In addition, layettes contain several cute baby outfits. Above, you see mostly clothes for newborn girls. Layettes contain 1-2 onesies, casual outfits and a dressy outfits. The clothes are arranged by gender and type- girls clothes, clothes for either gender, and boys clothes. This is one part I really loved as a volunteer- picking out the best outfits! Also, girls from Marist High School come in to make layettes sometimes and they have a lot of fun. It's also a good way to prepare girls for one day being mothers.

To top it all off, we always include two small stuffed toys for baby. Beanie babies are especially popular, or any little toy a baby can hold, like a rattle. When we're done, we cover the bag in gift wrap paper and tie them with blue or pink ribbons.

Then, they are all ready to gift to our mothers-to-be about two months before their delivery date!

Many thanks to the many people who donated all you see in this room.

Click on the pictures to enlarge!