Faith Maternity Care (FMC) exists to serve women who choose to carry their babies to full-term, by providing a home for expectant mothers, along with community client services for mothers who already have a place to call home. It's now Baby Bottle Fundraising time, and it's not too late to join in the celebration of supporting new life. Read on to hear one child's story of filling his baby bottle with change.
Many people ask, how does FMC make hope come alive, in a real and practical way, for mothers overcoming poverty and adversity while facing an unplanned pregnancy? How are the bills paid for all of the many services we offer? As a non-profit, FMC relies on the Alternatives to Abortion (A2A) grant, along with community partnerships through churches, businesses, civic organizations, and individuals like you. Each year we have one fundraiser to link arms with those who believe in our mission and goals, to improve the quality of life for mothers in our community. Our Baby Bottle fundraiser runs from Mother's Day through Father's Day and is easy, fun, and conveys much hope.
Here's how it works: Teams and individuals may pick up baby bottles from our FMC house and fill each bottle with spare change, dollar bills, or a check. Then, drop your baby bottles off at FMC after Father's Day and feel confident that you make a difference in changing lives, for life. One local Fulton family shared their experience with the Baby Bottle fundraiser. Their preschool aged grandson was up very early on a Sunday morning. As he was sitting in the recliner, all dressed up in his finest outfit, he was rocking and clutching a baby bottle full of change. When his family asked what he was doing up so early, his response was filled with excitement and joy, "I'm waiting to take my bottle to go save the babies!"
Who heads up this wild month of baby bottle fun? Sara Overstreet, the Outreach Coordinator at FMC, is easy to work with and comes with a passion for helping women move forward on their way to becoming self-sufficient moms. Sara is new to FMC and is a shining star addition to the leadership team. Sara and her husband are local business owners. Sara is also a wonderful mother and a leader of the Fulton Chapter of Celebrate Recovery, an international program for growth.
The Baby Bottle fundraiser supports our many efforts of education, counseling, and life skills. One area of focus is to support a woman's personal commitment to her recovery journey. We find a good fit with the Celebrate Recovery (CR) program for our mothers successes. CR is a Christ-centered, 12 step recovery program for anyone struggling with hurt, hangups, and negative habits of any kind. It's a safe place to find community and freedom from the issues that are controlling life. A mother recently shared her story: I am 26, a mom from Kansas City, and I was looking for help when I found FMC. I was addicted to fentanyl and found out I was having a baby. I was homeless, and I was lost. My two other children were not in my custody, due to a children's division case, and I didn't know what to do. After going through detox treatment, FMC helped me to have a safe pregnancy, where I was able to bring my newborn baby home to FMC. While here, the leaders helped me get my family relationships back on track and encouraged me to work hard on my goals, to get to be a mom to my two other children. Faith Maternity Care helped me learn to love myself again. I am now looking forward and no longer looking back. I am so hopeful. I am a stronger and a better mom for my three young children.
You have an opportunity to help save lives and make a difference now, by joining Faith Maternity Care's Baby Bottle fundraiser. Please also prayerfully consider becoming a monthly or annual donor. Our donors are key to saving lives and protecting futures. Please contact Sara Overstreet at [email protected] or call our office at 573.642.7414 for additional information. To discover more success stories, check out https://www.facebook.com/FaithMaternityCare and www.faithmaternity.com. Faith always finds a way, and Faith Happens when you partner with us in this life saving ministry.
Shelley Knight is the executive director of Faith Maternity Care, located in Fulton MO.