“It’s a lot to keep these moms choosing life, because they’re in a lot of distress,” shared Program Leader Cathy Schneider. “When they leave the sidewalk, the work begins.”
In response to the need beyond the sidewalk, Cathy and her team created a system to track the moms and families they serve, including women who are currently pregnant, women who have delivered their babies, women who chose life but miscarried, and women who got an abortion.
The advocates are currently working with 55 pregnant women—and for 22 of those women who are in need, the group is providing a complete Christmas celebration.
“My garage is full of bikes,” Cathy says. “I have bags and bags and bags of toys.”
For 38 moms, the team has stuffed stockings with items to bring them joy and help them through tough spots. Many stockings will be delivered in person, and some have been mailed to women who have moved out of state.
That saying “it takes a village” is one Cathy and her team have taken to heart. They turn to their church communities to ask for help and ask individuals and families to “adopt a family.”
“We have a lot of very generous people here in Georgia,” Cathy says. “It’s a lot of ‘see a need, meet a need.’”
The Atlanta team has also helped women with prenatal diagnoses obtain medical care. And they work with women who are undocumented, helping provide them and their babies the care they need–care they would not otherwise have sought, out of fear. They’ve assisted women moving to a new home, borrowing trucks, soliciting assistance with packing and unpacking, and keeping in touch, even from a great distance.
While maintaining relationships with those they served on the sidewalk is a tremendous undertaking, it’s life-saving and life-giving work.
Cathy recalls one woman who suffered the trauma of abortion stayed in touch with Cathy after meeting her on the sidewalk. When a friend of hers became unexpectedly pregnant, she called Cathy and asked if she would talk to her. “I don’t want her to go through what I went through,” she said.
“It’s amazing ,” Cathy says. “Just because we were kind to her.”
“One of my friends likes to say, ‘When we show up, God likes to show off!’ It’s very involved, but it’s super, super rewarding.”
Submitted by Sidewalk Advocates for Life-Atlanta