Additional Culture of Life Programs

Baby Bottle Campaign

The “Knights of Columbus Baby Bottle Campaign” (also called a "Baby Bottle Boomerang") is a drive to collect funds to support culture of life initiatives at the local level. In this program, empty baby bottles are distributed to individuals or families to deposit their loose change, checks, or paper money, and the filled bottles are returned after a set period of time, such as a few days or several weeks.

Here are some suggestions on how to conduct a “Knights of Columbus Baby Bottle Campaign”:

• Obtain your pastor’s permission to operate the “Knights of Columbus Baby Bottle Campaign” in the parish. Visit your pastor in person (not via a phone or e-mail) to ask permission to conduct the program. You should ask for at least two weekends -- the first to hand out bottles and the second to collect them.
• Recruit a Knight to chair the project.
• Determine the number of baby bottles you will need to cover the number of weekend Mass attendees. Ask your pastor for the number of families who donate to the parish each week.
• Many pregnancy care centers already have a supply of baby bottles that they will lend to you for your campaign.
• If not, ask council members to donate clean used baby bottles.
• If not enough bottles are borrowed or donated, visit your local discount store and ask to speak with the manager. Explain the number of baby bottles you wish to purchase, which may be more than are currently in stock. Get a commitment to receive them several weeks prior to the event.
• When the bottles arrive, remove the nipples (to ensure that the bottles are used for the collection) and put the labels on them. The labels (made possibly from mailing labels available at most office supply stores) should include your council's name, wording such as "Knights of Columbus Baby Bottle Campaign for Culture of Life Initiatives," the return date, and the Order's emblem.
• At an organizational meeting assign Knights to each exit of the church to hand out baby bottles on the distribution date. Ask that an announcement about the program be put in the parish bulletin. Also place posters around the parish (with the pastor’s permission). Run the first bulletin notice a week prior to the distribution.
• Ask the pastor to announce the program from the pulpit or have a council officer do it on the day the bottles are handed out.
• On the set date, collect the bottles with the money before or after Mass. For people who forget their bottles, ask them to drop them at the parish office at their convenience (make arrangements with the pastor for this).
• Ask the organization you are donating to permission to send a photo and press release about the donation to the local media. Try to avoid a “grip and grin” type presentation photo. Instead, send a photograph of people at the center sorting or using the donated items.
• Return the bottles to the pregnancy care center or store the bottles safely for use during your next campaign.

Thank you to the North Carolina state council for this suggested program.

Baby Showers

Sponsoring a “Knights of Columbus Pro-life Baby Shower” is a great way to raise funds and obtain supplies for local culture of life organizations, a pregnancy care center (PCC), and shelters for women and children. Conduct the event at your local parish or community center, asking for donations of used baby or maternity clothing, infant and pregnancy supplies, diapers, bottles, formula, etc.

Here are some steps to follow when conducting this program.

• Ask council members if they have an old crib that is in good condition or a portable play pen that is not being used.
• Obtain your pastor’s permission to set up an old crib or play pen in the church’s entry way or foyer.
• Set a period of time to run the event (for example, weekends for a month) and ask your pastor or make an announcement about the initiative, or get permission to have a council officer make an announcement before or after each Mass. Also, request for a written announcement be placed in the parish bulletin. The announcement should ask parishioners to consider donating new or used baby or maternity clothing, baby and pregnancy supplies, diapers, bottles, formula, etc.
• If collecting monetary donations, be sure to place a secure receptacle in your collection area for cash and checks.
• TIP: Place some nice baby/maternity items and supplies in the collection receptacle after setting it up so people can see what types of items are needed. Put a sign on the collection receptacle so people who miss the announcement will know what it is for.
• Collect the items after Mass each weekend.
• With permission of the organization you are donating to, send a photo and press release on the donation to the local media. Try to avoid a “grip and grin” type presentation photo and instead send photograph of people at the center sorting or using the donated baby shower items.

Thanks to the Kansas State Council for this suggested program.

Support Materials

The Supreme Council has a number of other materials to aid you. All of these are free of charge except for the shipping.

Print Materials
To order the following materials, contact the Supreme Council Supply Department.

When ordering materials, please mail or fax (1-800-266-6340) a Requisition Form (#1) to the Supply Department. Orders faxed in should not be mailed because it may result in duplicate order. Please allow four weeks to ensure delivery by the event.

 

Also available are:

To order, at no charge, email:  william.obrien@kofc.org or call 203-752-4403 with your name, council number, address, telephone number, and the exact number of signs you need.

Support Materials
Title	Number
People of Life brochure	4795
People of Life poster	4804
Prayer for the Unborn prayer card	4665
Pregnant? Need Help? - Birthright flyer	1757
Defend Life billboard use only (10' x 20')	1938
Pray the Rosary to End Abortion prayer card	2072
Pray the Rosary to End Abortion poster	2073
Celebrate the Gospel of Life prayer card	4237
Celebrate the Gospel of Life poster	4238
Study Guide for the encyclical Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life)	2914

Recommended Links

A listing of recommended pro-life Web sites. Uncompromisingly pro-life, the Knights of Columbus is pleased to point to other, more specialized organizations that carry on the cause of life.

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USCCB Secretariat for Pro-life
The USCCB Pro-Life Secretariat is the arm of the U.S. Bishops' Conference that conducts a broad-based information and education effort, in the Church and in society, to deepen respect for the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death. Its mission is to act, in light of the Gospel of Life, to protect all human life, especially the unborn, disabled, elderly and dying.

Birthright
Birthright began in Toronto, in 1968, when Louise Summerhill determined to help women through an unplanned pregnancy. The Toronto center quickly grew into Birthright International, the world's first international crisis pregnancy service, which now has about 500 chapters worldwide, including 70 in Canada, 450 in the United States, and others in South Africa, Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria and Hong Kong.

 

March for Life
The March for Life began in Washington, D.C., in 1974 to peacefully protest the Supreme Court's infamous Roe v. Wade decision which decriminalized abortion. Each year on Jan. 22, thousands of pro-life Americans, led by March for Life president Nellie Gray, march in Washington, D.C. In addition, the March for Life Fund engages in year-round educational activities and sponsors student contests, the "Say It With Roses" campaign, and the Rose Dinner.

Susan B. Anthony List
The Susan B. Anthony List has a remarkable tool that allows visitors to send messages directly to their Members of Congress, asking for support of pro-life legislation. You don't even have to know who your Member is, all you need to do is type in your address. Sample letters are included! The Susan B. Anthony List also trains pro-life activists and candidates, works to dispel the myths about abortion, and is trying to increase the percentage of pro-life women in Congress (through their Candidate Fund).

 

40 Days for Life
40 Days for Life is a community-based campaign that draws attention to the evil of abortion through the use of a three-point program: prayer and fasting, constant vigil and community outreach. Following successful local 40 Days for Life campaigns from 2004-2006, the first national campaign was conducted in more than 80 cities in fall 2007.

Life Athletes
Life Athletes is a coalition of more than 200 professional and Olympic athletes who teach and inspire others to respect life and live lives of virtue and sexual abstinence. Life Athletes was founded as an independent, athlete-directed, non-profit organization in 1992.

National Right to Life
The National Right to Life Committee (U.S.) is the largest pro-life organization in the United States, with affiliates in all 50 states and over 3,000 local chapters nationwide. NRLC works through legislation and education to protect those threatened by abortion, euthanasia, infanticide and assisted suicide.

 

Priests for Life
Priests for Life is an officially approved association of Catholic clergy that assists other clergy in addressing life issues. Priests for Life adds both an authoritative voice and a sacrificial power to the pro-life cause.

The Vatican Web Site
The Gospel of Life is found in the teaching of Christ and His Church. The Vatican web site is a repository of Church documents and other information.

 

Culture of Life Fund

Do you want to make a difference in the world, and help to save the lives of unborn children? Your prayers and donations to the Culture of Life Fund can do just that. Read More