A place to go
A place to go
It is the season of giving and one local organization is asking you to give with your heart so they can keep their doors open.
St. Gianna’s Maternity Home has been taking in homeless pregnant women and their children for more than a year now. But with a troubled economy, money has gotten tight for many charitable causes, including St. Gianna’s, a Catholic-based organization, said Amanda Fimbres-Baeza, the group’s executive director.
Of course, although donations are falling short, the needs only grow bigger.
So St. Gianna’s is taking action by presenting a dinner-dance gala Nov. 29 at the Women’s Club, 2030 18th St.
“We are having a fundraiser to keep our doors open,” Fimbres-Baeza said. “Times are tough and we work on private donations.”
The goal is to raise $50,000.
Although the local maternity home at 3811 Mt. Vernon Ave. is Catholic-based, they do not receive any church funding and must rely on the help and generosity of individuals and/or other groups, according to Fimbres-Baeza.
The group’s gala will have a no-host bar at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7. There will also be music and dancing from 8 to 11 p.m. with performances by Little Ray and the Starfire Band.
“This fundraiser will benefit homeless pregnant women and their babies,” Fimbres-Baeza said.
Since Sept. 8, 2007, St. Gianna’s has served six women and their children by providing shelter, clothing, food, diapers, formula and more, she said.
And by giving women this option, their future and that of their babies can be totally changed, Fimbres-Baeza said.
“This home is vital to the community because these women who are pregnant and homeless might choose to abort their child if they have no place to go,” Fimbres-Baeza said. “It truly is a matter of life or death for these babies.”
In addition to the help the women receive with the basics — shelter, food, clothing, etc. — St. Gianna’s is there for these mothers-to-be on a spiritual level as well, she said.
“Our home is faith-based and provides women with spiritual direction so that they can have a strong foundation to rebuild their lives,” Fimbres-Baeza said.
With all of this in mind, Fimbres-Baeza urges the community to consider the importance and the good St. Gianna’s Maternity Home is doing and to help keep it available to women right here in our own community.
“Our motto is ‘One Mother, One Baby, One Family at a Time,’” Fimbres-Baeza said.
St. Gianna’s Maternity Home
• Dinner-Dance & Gala
• 6 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 29
• Tickets: $75 donation
• Details: 872-BAB
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