‘Village’ lifts Columbia Pregnancy Center

COLUMBIA – The coronavirus pandemic should have played havoc with the Columbia Pregnancy Center, but its benefactors had other ideas.

In August, the 501(c)3 mission in Howard County doubled in size by relocating to office space near the intersection of State Route 32 and Broken Land Parkway. The lease was signed March 30 – two weeks after Gov. Larry Hogan restricted gatherings and places of business in Maryland, and four days after the CPC’s annual banquet, which in a normal year provides half of its operating budget, was cancelled.

“We’ve been able to meet our funding needs, despite fundraising effectively being pretty much sabotaged,” said Nancy Vawter, executive director. “There was a tremendous amount of work in the move, none of which I could have imagined, but people are always generous with us.

“It actually seems as if there’s been an increase in the desire and passion to help.”

Among those assisting the CPC, which provides free, confidential assistance to expectant mothers as an alternative to abortion, were the Knights of Columbus from Council 10525 at St. Michael, Poplar Springs, in Mount Airy. Its ongoing support included donating a sonogram machine to the CPC in March 2018. 

The Shrine of St. Anthony in Ellicott City and the Sodality of St. Augustine in Elkridge organized knitting and crocheting teams that provide prayer shawls for mothers and those expecting, and blankets, hats and booties for their babies, respectively. 

Our Lady of Perpetual Help and Church of the Resurrection in Ellicott City are among the parishes that hold annual offertory collections for the CPC and donate clothing, wipes and related materials, gathered at “baby showers.” 

St. Louis Parish in Clarksville does the same, in addition to providing more than half of the CPC volunteers, who total approximately 60. Its contributions also include bringing on board Vawter, who spent 20 years as director of campus ministry at St. Vincent Pallotti High School in Laurel.

When three generations of her family settled on farmland in Dayton, Vawter became a parishioner of St. Louis.

“Every Sunday, I saw an advertisement for an executive director (of the CPC) in the bulletin,” said Vawter, who added, “I wasn’t looking for a job.”

Vawter, who has a master’s degree in pastoral counseling from Loyola University Maryland, became the CPC’s first full-time executive director in January 2017.

The CPC will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2021, in 3,500 square feet of space that includes “Annie’s Boutique.” The name honors Vawter’s late mother, who worked three jobs to raise three children on her own. 

“She led a selfless life, doing what others needed, and never worrying about herself,” Vawter said.

The new CPC includes a dedicated prayer room, what Vawter described as a “luxury for volunteers dealing with challenging situations.” From St. ­Louis Parish, they include Mike and Kim Damewood. Fellow parishioners Amy Campbell and Mary Dan serve as director of client services and client advocate, respectively. 

Vawter is hopeful that Monsignor Joseph L. Luca, pastor of St. Louis, will perform a blessing open to the public during the 40th anniversary year. 

The church is part of a pastorate that includes St. Francis of Assisi in Fulton, another benefactor. The cabinets that store clothing, meanwhile, were built by Presbyterian deacons. 

As Vawter said, “You can see, the village is supporting us.”

Email Paul McMullen at pmcmullen@CatholicReview.org

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New Senate bill aims to protect privacy for charitable donors following pregnancy center case

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