“We’ve done baby showers in many parishes,” said Pallini, who credits diocesan receptionist Joan Kloster with the impetus for the collection.
Joan Kloster, left, Catholic Charities administrative assistant; Karen Johnston, Catholic Charities director; and Christina Pallini, diocesan respect life coordinator, stand near a playpen and boxes of donated baby items. The collection will be distributed through Catholic Charities to mothers in need. (Sam Lucero | The Compass)
“The bottom line is that we support mothers in keeping their babies (in the womb) and also support them afterwards, when the baby is born,” Pallini added.
Three playpens in the lobbies of the diocesan office buildings are slowly filling with the goods for babies and toddlers. Even outside donations have been arriving, including hats and mittens from Shopko.
Pallini said that the donations are “just one more way of protecting and defending life.”
