Pregnancy Center Support

Overview

More than three thousand pro-life pregnancy centers now operate in jurisdictions throughout the Order. By the very nature of our founding, Knights of Columbus are called to care for the widow and orphan. Abortion-vulnerable unborn children and mothers experiencing unexpected pregnancies certainly fall within our mandate. With our aid, pregnancy centers can offer support to help them choose life. Councils can “adopt” a pregnancy center and provide material, labor, and spiritual support throughout the year. For Pregnancy Center Support Program resources, visit www.kofc.org/support.

Featured Program Requirements

For two program credits toward the Columbian Award – Contact a local pregnancy center to assess its needs and support the center through fundraising, volunteering, or prayer; or carry out at least one of the suggested program options listed in the action steps below (or a similar pro-life charitable or spiritual activity).

Please Note: Participating in Pregnancy Center Support does not satisfy the programming requirements for the Ultrasound Program. The two activities are separate and cannot be double-counted.

Action Steps

Identify a program chairman to oversee all action steps and delegate tasks, as needed. If coordinating with the parish, confirm pastor approval with grand knight, and then set up subsequent parish ministry collaboration meetings.
Ask the director of a local pregnancy center about its needs and then organize programs to help meet those needs. Databases available through organizations like OptionLine, Care Net, Heartbeat International, and BirthRight are great places to search for a center in need.
Potential programs could include:
- Pray for nine months for an unborn child through a spiritual “adoption”
- Present roses to mothers and appropriate gifts to families upon the birth or baptism of their children
- Each March 25th, hold a Mass for Life on the Knights of Columbus Day of the Unborn Child
- Refer employment opportunities, affordable rental apartments, and opportunities for free or low-cost health care to the pregnancy center for client use
- Provide centers with funds for general expenses, purchase of a building, rental of an office, materials and labor for renovation, or for hiring or training of staff
- Provide general labor around the pregnancy care center such as lawn maintenance, cleaning, painting or other useful activities the council and members may be able to perform
Potential fundraising activities could include:

Baby Bottle Boomerang
Funding a Knights of Columbus table at the pregnancy center’s annual fundraising dinner
Assisting and participating in a pregnancy center sponsored 5K or other fundraising event
A “baby shower” to collect maternity clothes and baby items (diapers, etc.) for the pregnancy center

Meet council/parish needs by asking the pregnancy center to provide speakers on topics such as:

Chastity for religious education students
Natural Procreative Technology (NaProTechnology) regarding fertility issues, natural family planning, pregnancy or parenting for parish couples in childbearing years
Post-abortion counseling
Other pro-life issues for council members, the parish or the general community

Plan the fundraising, educational or other programming event or activity, delegate responsibilities to council members, and carry out the program.
Build public interest for the program! Promote Pregnancy Center Support in your parish and larger community through a variety of efforts

Bulletin announcements
Pulpit announcements
Posting on your council and parish website / social media pages

On the day of any Pregnancy Center Support events, wear Knights of Columbus-branded apparel.
Enlist a fellow Knight or community member to photograph any events.
To gain credit for your program, complete the associated reporting forms

Immediately after your program is finished, complete the Fraternal Programs Report Form (#10784)
At the end of the fraternal year, complete the Columbian Award Application (#SP-7)

Resources

#10704- Brochure

#10705- Vertical Poster

Program resources can be ordered by your grand knight, financial secretary and/or program director on Supplies Online via Officers Online.

Overview

Featured Program Requirements

Action Steps

Resources

Related Links