Author: Jim Venglarik
Brother Knights,
We must … ensure that those who choose life have a home, an income, food, clothing, and provisions for their children.
Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop of Arlington, Chairman, USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities
Room At The Inn operates housing and support programs for single, pregnant women and single mothers with children suffering from homelessness, offering them opportunities to have new lives of healthy, hope-filled independence.
Brother Albert Hodges, KofC NC Chairman, Novena for Life, is the CEO and founding partner of Room At The Inn. Per Albert, “the homes and programs provide opportunities for young women and children suffering from homelessness to transition to new lives of healthy, independent living: babies being born, young mothers returning to high school or enrolling in college, and new families moving into their own homes for the first time. We recognize Jesus in our mothers and children, born and unborn. Our ministry provides us the opportunity to help build a culture of life and extend Christ’s merciful love to them as they work hard to embark on new paths of responsible, wholesome living.”
The Promise Center is the latest Room At The Inn project to greatly expand services to single pregnant women across North Carolina. The goal is to raise $9.3M. $6.3M has already been raised, which includes a $3M grant from the North Carolina Legislature.
Partners On The Journey Capital Campaign - Room at the Inn (roominn.org)
As North Carolina Knights, we are called by our Bishops to Walk with Moms in Need, such as those served by Room At The Inn. We are planning to launch an online fundraising campaign, where each council will be able to customize a webpage, to then promote ‘giving through their parish. Our NC State Deputy, Sergio Miranda, stated, "The Room at the Inn Promise Center allows for more love and support for families at their greatest time of need. It is a living expression of our founder Blessed Michael McGivney's vision of helping women and children."
Each council will be provided with a “campaign kit”, including a webpage, sample bulletin announcement, videos, etc which they can then customize and promote. Fundraising software will be available on the Internet but there is no cost to the local council for this fundraising software. We will be asking each council to identify a campaign owner, most likely the life director, to work with his parish and pastor for approval and support. This is a Parish program facilitated by the council. All parish donations are collected for Room at the Inn directly. The council coordinator promotes the campaign within the parish and determines any needed local customization. Brother John Killela, KofC NC Coordinator, is available to assist at 919-291-7664 or John.Killela@gmail.com.
We recommend councils choose either October (Respect Life month) or Advent to conduct their campaigns. ASAP matches from Supreme will be available to leverage as well. ASAP (Aid and Support After Pregnancy) | The Knights of Columbus (kofc.org)
A zoom call/webinar to provide additional details will be held in August. Please contact Brother John Killela with any questions.
Father Noah Carter, Chaplain, Room At The Inn, states “The most special part of Room at the Inn’s ministry is that it serves women and children who have nowhere else to go. Homeless, pregnant women are incredibly vulnerable and have so few resources in the community. Room at the Inn helps empower these women to be homemakers in the best sense of the word: creating family environments which allow them and their children the best opportunity to thrive.”
Please help “Save the Babies!”
Vivat Jesus,
John Killela
KofC NC Coordinator, RATI Promise Campaign
John.killela@gmail.com
Jim Venglarik
KofC NC Life Director
Life@kofcnc.org
As we embark on this next part of our journey together, we hope that you will partner with us in prayer for the success of this work.