This past week was a busy one at the Center. We have had a lot of clients come in just needing basic necessities for their little ones like clothes, diapers and formula. As the weather has gotten cooler, we've given out a lot more blankets as well. One family came in on Tuesday with a 9 month old baby. The mother was one we had helped through a crisis pregnancy last year. She had her infant daughter, a Juan Diego saved baby, and her older son with her. The baby was only wearing socks on her feet and a little pink dress, even though it was cold out, and had been raining on and off that day. The baby needed warm clothes badly. Thanks to the kindness of our donors, we had everything she needed to dress warmly, even little shoes. Her older brother also needed warm clothes, and especially a jacket and shoes but, unfortunately, we didn't have a size 7 jacket or size 1 shoes for boys that day. We are in need of warm clothing, jackets, sweaters and coats, especially in sizes 3T to size 8 children's for both boys and girls. Your gently-used donations are welcome!

On Friday, we had a mini-family reunion of sorts. The occasion was the return of one of our volunteers who helped us last year. She counseled at least two mothers who chose life for their babies! She has since moved back to her native Mexico and was able to make visit to the Center while she was in town. Many of the JDS crew came together for lunch, to see her and welcome her back. We talked, laughed and teased each other, as usual, over a feast of subway sandwiches and pizza. It was a terrific way to spend the afternoon...with the "extended" family!

Just as our lunch was wrapping up, a client came in with her boyfriend, requesting a pregnancy test. I remembered that she had come in before, and had a pregnancy test then too. Her test then, was negative. But she had returned. She was only 16,  and her boyfriend 17. She had had a hard life and spent a good portion of her life in foster care. She just moved back to San Jose after living in L.A. with her grandmother for a couple of months. She seemed very lost, and said that she was undecided about what she would do if she was pregnant. Abortion was apparently an option.

Her test was negative. But while we were waiting for the test to be completed, we talked to her about what she wanted for her future. Like so many children who have been deeply and negatively affected by the failings of their parents, she mourned the fact that her parents were never married, that she never knew her father, and that she was "supposed to have an older sister", but her mother had an abortion before she was born, and did not regret killing her child. She wanted something better for herself.

We were able to share some information on chastity with her. We talked about what real love is and how special and priceless she was. We explained why living chastely would be the best way to keep from making some of the same mistakes her parents made. She seemed to really respond to the fact that their was someone who seemed to care about her, and even perked up a little as we were talking to her.We invited her to come back to the Center any time, even to just have coffee or lunch and just hang out with us. She said she was looking for a part time job, so we offered to let her volunteer at the Center for a few hours a week to get a work reference.

She left the Center smiling, partly from the relief of not being pregnant...and (I would like to think), partly from the feeling that she had found a safe place with friends who cared about her and would help her however they were able to.