In January 2024, I received donations for my project with the American Heritage Girls benefiting the Women’s Care Center. Over the past year, I have worked to update and renovate the center’s main bathroom with the help of donors’ unprecedented spiritual and monetary generosity.
At the start of last year, the Care Center identified problems with the restroom that included a cracked vanity, old tiling, peeling walls, and the need for a pregnancy sample box and new baby changing station.
I asked for donations through my American Heritage Girls Troop OH0031, my youth group the Vine, and through The Catholic Times. I was floored by the incredible kindness and unselfishness. Within a few weeks, the total funds reached $5,522.57, surpassing my initial goal.
In January, a vanity was installed. God’s grace was so clear during this process with the timing of the delivery and the contractor, who found issues with the wiring.
From February through April, plans were made for retiling. I needed something classy and homelike to support the aesthetic, but I wanted to stay under budget. I went with the same contractor, who laid vinyl tiling on top of the current tiling to refresh the room.
In May, I debated with my adviser about the benefits of adding air conditioning in the form of a return fan. After consulting a professional, I realized the only possible way to do that would be through the current window, but rewiring the walls would be required. I decided that a better use of the money would be to freshen up the area, and a marble backsplash was installed at the top of the vanity.
The painting phase took all summer between working and college visits. It involved painting late into the night in order to work around the center’s open hours. I learned time management, perseverance and patience throughout this process. Sometimes, the preparation and cleanup alone would take four hours. I am so grateful to the friends and adults who sacrificed their nights to help me.
In August, the center provided a metal box and spray paint for the pregnancy sample box. The Lord continually blessed me throughout this month between my Dad helping me install the box, St. Anthony being abundantly generous any time we needed or lost anything, and navigating issues with the waterproof lining and final box installation.
In September, last-minute trips were made to find bathroom necessities. Scraping off extra paint, adding finishing touches and installing lamps completed the bathroom.
I truly learned so much through this project and was astounded by the kindness of everyone through donations of time, prayer, knowledge and money. Because of their generosity, I was able to donate $1214.68 back to the Women’s Care Center for future cleaning and maintenance.
The Women’s Care Center’s staff is incredible. Every day, I entered a center full of love and holy femininity. Each member reflected Mary in words and actions. They live out the works of mercy, opening their doors to anyone and everyone. It’s so unlike a sterile hospital. It is a haven of comfort, joy and hope.
Since I originally contacted the Women’s Care Center in July 2023 about the project, the number of expectant mothers seen at the Center has risen 30 percent from 1,503 to 1,943 while visits in the previous 365 days jumped from 9,519 to 10,895. This means more moms are given the opportunity to choose life and more babies are saved.
There are so many blessings from the Lord showing His guiding hand over the Women’s Care Center and with this project to earn the Stars and Stripes Award, which is the American Heritage Girls’ highest award. Thank you all for your support and unending kindness.
All are welcome to come and take a look inside at 935 E. Broad St., Columbus. Contact Madeline Pesavento, the Women’s Care Center senior outreach director, at madeline@supportwcc.org.
Annelise Perez is a parishioner at Columbus St. Patrick Church.