By Lito Alvarez
•
August 19, 2022
Aid and Support After Pregnancy (ASAP) Program Hawai’i - Mary Jane Home WHAT : The KofC Hawai’i State Council is partnering with the Mary Jane Home (MJH) to provide for the needs of local pregnant mothers and their babies in support of the new ASAP program. WHO : MJH serves between 12 and 15 new mothers annually both during their pregnancy and for up to five years after giving birth in its aftercare program. Because these women may be in a crisis pregnancy, at risk for homelessness, or in an unsupportive home environment, MJH provides them with transitional housing, food, individual and group counseling, child care, and adoption referrals as well as daily classes in infant care, childbirth and other valuable life skills to encourage them to choose life. WHY : MJH is a pro-life and 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that is wholly owned and operated by Catholic Charities Hawaii. It does not receive state or federal grants for funding, and recently lost the support of a Castle Foundation grant that had provided $60,000 annually towards its aftercare program. For this reason, MJH is well suited and a priority for ASAP partnership. HOW : MJH is looking to the Knights for help to subsidize its mothers' rent, food, and child care expenses, which costs approximately $2,000/month for each mother. Additionally, MJH has requested the following baby items: - 24 infant car seats (new only) - 24 strollers (new only) - 24 cribs or pack-n-plays - 24 safety gates - Diapers (newborn to size 3) - Baby wipes - Baby formula - Baby bottles WHEN : Each Council may determine the timing for its own fundraisers or item drives, but any delivery to MJH must first be coordinated through the program chair or directly with MJH. To garner attention and facilitate parish/community giving, it is recommended that drives coincide with other pro-life events like 40 Days for Life 365 (Sept 28 - Nov 6), the National Prayer Vigil for Life and March for Life (Jan 19th-20th), the Day of the Unborn Child (Mar 25th), or Mother’s Day (May 14th). COORDINATING INSTRUCTIONS : To make monetary contributions, please make donations directly to the Mary Jane Home in-person. For maternity and baby item donations, please contact Jennie Heleski at jheleski@catholiccharitieshawaii.org or 808-261-9776 to coordinate delivery to MJH. For questions regarding MJH’s needs or to coordinate presentation of donations, please contact the ASAP Program Chair, Br. Avery A Catabran at ASAP@kofchawaii.org. EXECUTION GUIDANCE : All donations are eligible for program credits towards both ASAP and Pregnancy Center Support (PCS) programs. For every $500 a council or assembly donates (up to $2,000), Supreme will issue a $100 grant (up to $400) to MJH. Qualified donations include both monetary contributions or baby items that have an estimated value of at least $500. Because PCS is a Featured Program, Councils may earn two program credits towards the Columbian Award by hosting a separate item drive or “baby shower” to collect MJH’s requested items. Donation may not be counted twice towards both programs, it is suggested to donate baby items under Pregnancy Resource Center (PRC) and money under ASAP. For Further information about the ASAP program, contact ASAP Chairman, Avery A Catabran at asap@kofchawaii.org. .