The transformation of a private room at Lourdeshouse Maternity Home in Harrisburg this past weekend offers a perfect metaphor for the transformation women experience through individualized care and case management at the residential program operated by Catholic Charities.
A vacant room at the end of a hallway came to life after volunteers from the Respect Life Ministry at St. Margaret Mary Parish, Harrisburg, invested time, energy and resources, just as the women at Lourdeshouse find the start of a new life of hope from the staff and caseworkers who give their time, resources, experience and devotion at the home.
Thanks to a new program introduced by Catholic Charities, parishes, schools, businesses and groups can be part of this life-changing effort, too.
The Adopt-a-Room initiative invites groups to select a room in one of Catholic Charities’ three residential programs at the St. Samuel Center in Harrisburg: Lourdeshouse, Evergreen House for Women in Recovery and the Interfaith Shelter for Homeless Families.
Participating groups will be tasked with designing, painting, furnishing and decorating a room with the goal of providing a safe and inviting space where residents can find hope and support to embark on a fresh start.
“Each adopted room represents a person, family, parish, or business choosing to love their neighbor in a very tangible way. Many of our clients arrive feeling invisible, and walking into a room that someone cared enough to adopt reminds them they are not forgotten. While their stay may be temporary, the way they are treated during that time can shape how they see themselves and the future they believe is possible,” said Tara Benkovic, Development Director for Catholic Charities.
Members of St. Margaret Mary Parish’s Respect Life Ministry stepped up to the task this past weekend, transforming a room at Lourdeshouse in stunning fashion.
The group purchased a bevy of items, including a new bed, furnishings, a vanity for the private bathroom and an array of baby items, toiletries and personal touches.
“This program really spoke to my heart because I’ve worked in the pro-life world. I thought the project was a beautiful way to spend our time and our resources and to be consistent in the pro-life message,” said Bonnie Finnerty, ministry coordinator.
“The women at Lourdeshouse have said yes to life despite very difficult circumstances. We can have a baby shower for them and give them material goods, but the reality is they need continuous support. Giving them a place to live before and after they have the baby, giving them a social worker to provide the framework to help guide them and connect them to next steps, it just seemed to be a beautiful pro-life opportunity,” she said.
Volunteers arrived early on Saturday morning, January 24, to prep and paint the room, polish the doors and frames, and unbox and assemble furnishings. By the end of the day, their efforts revealed a room with a new bed for mom, a pack and play for baby, two armoires, a nightstand and lamp, comfortable bedding, fresh linens and closet organizers. Furniture was purchased at Cozy Mountain Furniture.
The result is a tastefully decorated, feminine room for a woman to welcome her baby into the world.
The cost for the project was approximately $3,000, most of which was paid for by proceeds from the ministry’s two annual fundraisers. Other items were donated by benefactors and purchased through individual contributions.
“We want the women who will be staying in this room to know they are beautiful, they are loved and they are worth it. That might be a message they’ve never heard,” Finnerty said. “Having a room that is thoughtfully planned with comfortable furnishing and pretty colors is our way of showing them God’s love and goodness,” she said.
For volunteer Cathy Riordan, the project represents the full continuum of care and respect for human life in all its stages.
“The St. Samuel Center has a lot of history for me, dating back to when it was the former Colonial Pines Nursing Home, where my grandparents lived in assisted living,” she said. “There’s a lot of history there for me, so I was greatly excited when Catholic Charities purchased the center and placed its three residential programs there. It’s all about caring for people in need.”
The Adopt-a-Room initiative provides volunteers a chance to see the life-changing programs of Catholic Charities and become part of the story of the residents who are embarking on a future of hope and making a better life for themselves.
“For our ministry, the room renovation was a chance to impact not just a few women, but many women and their babies who will stay in this room. It’s an opportunity to give them a really big hug through a beautiful, safe space for them to bond with the new life they’ve created and start a new season in their lives together.
For more information about adopting a room, contact Tara Benkovic at 717-657-4804, ext. 284, or tbenkovic@cchbg.org. Learn more about Catholic Charities’ programs, upcoming events and ways to give at www.cchbg.org.
(Renovation photos by Jen Reed, The Catholic Witness; completion photos courtesy of Bonnie Finnerty.)
By Jen Reed, The Catholic Witness
