Today, April 28, is the feast day of our Patroness, St. Gianna Molla. Additionally, we will mark our first anniversary on May 2. We have so much to celebrate, and all of us at St. Gianna’s Place are very grateful to you, our supporters, for your prayers, volunteer hours, and financial contributions that have enabled us to support life and help families over the past 12 months.
It’s been an eventful year, and we’re very proud of our accomplishments. During this time we’ve provided housing, education, and spiritual guidance to pregnant women in crisis. Two of our residents have given birth, and one more is due in May. All of the women who either currently live or have lived with us have been provided cooking, parenting, and money management classes either at our home or with third parties with whom we partner. Additionally, they have been able to finish their high school educations and/or receive career training, including instruction in creating a resume and how to effectively interview. Two residents have completed coursework and training to become Licensed Nursing Assistants, and are now gainfully employed and poised to further their educations in nursing. Most importantly, all of our residents have been introduced to Jesus. St. Gianna’s Place provides formal spiritual guidance, and everyone at the home is exposed to Christian values as an everyday priority. Staff and residents attend Mass together each week, sometimes travelling to a Kenyan Mass in Lowell.
We’ve been privileged to celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and birthdays with our residents. Our employees and volunteers have selflessly shared their time and talents with these young women, teaching them to cook, garden, and make jewelry. We provide ongoing professional training for our staff, allowing them to better serve our residents.
We have watched with great joy as our residents have reached personal goals, too. One of them has met her goal of renting her own apartment, and another has successfully mended a strained relationship with her mother. As our residents move on, we continue to support them. They call to ask for prayers or advice, or to just say hello and check-in.
As is the case everywhere, COVID 19 has caused some disruptions. Our second banquet which was scheduled for April 22, had to be rescheduled, and our spring Baby Bottle campaign is also being revamped due to churches being closed. Social distancing has prevented volunteers from visiting St. Gianna’s Place, and all training and education has become virtual. But still, we continue to make a positive impact on those we serve.
We pray for all of you and your families during this time of testing, and ask that you do the same for us. We understand that many are currently struggling, but we humbly request that anyone who is able to share resources with St. Gianna’s Place at this time, please do so. Our annual fundraising banquet is our biggest source of income, and rescheduling it is a financial setback. We will truly appreciate any donations, no matter the amount.
Again, thank you for your continued interest in and support of St. Gianna’s Place. If you would like to help us financially, please visit our donor page at https://stgiannasplace.org//donate/ for information. Blessings to all of you as we celebrate St. Gianna Molla and our home’s first anniversary!