Shawnte and Danielle’s Story
Washington Examiner: ‘Shifted My Whole Life’: Two Virginia Mothers Reflect on How Maternity Homes Saved Them and Their Children
“We give women three years here, sometimes more,” Kathleen Wilson, executive director of Mary’s Shelter, said. “The idea is that they and their children, who we love … can go on, and counseling, housing, educational, or employment goals can be a real and sustainable reality for them.”
Wilson said the shelter, which started 17 years ago, has grown from one bedroom to four homes with 24 bedrooms. She sees “a real mix of people” come in from all walks of life to turn their lives around for the better.
She said the biggest reason why people come to Mary’s Shelter and why abortions tend to be their first choice is that they are in abusive relationships and do not have a place to live.
“Most of them, that’s not what they really want to do,” she said. “It’s just these traumatic events in their lives for many of them, but for them to even call us, you know, it really shows … that they’re reaching out in some way.”
Mallory said the moment she stepped into Mary’s Shelter, she felt like she was at home.
“It changed my life to be able to have my child, to be in a safe environment, and to not feel like I’m rushed, and I can have all my children with me,” Mallory said.
CBS News: Shelter Aims to Help Underserved Pregnant People Find Stability: ‘We Turn No One Away”
In 2014 Shawnte Mallory, then a mother of two, lost her job and struggled to pay rent. When she became pregnant again, she reluctantly decided to get an abortion, citing her lack of motivation at the time.
“It wasn’t what I wanted to do,” she told CBS News chief legal correspondent Jan Crawford. “It was just at the moment. It was what everybody was telling me to do. So I felt like that was really my only option.”
Then she discovered Mary’s Shelter: a faith-based social service agency that aims to help underserved youth, pregnant people and women find stability. With funding from private donors and fundraising events, the shelter provides fully furnished group housing and resources to try and help clients and their children get back on their feet for up to three years.
Since using the shelter’s services, Mallory, now 31, has five daughters, studies theology and works as a peer recovery coach helping people who struggle with addiction and trauma.
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/virginia-womens-shelter-aims-to-help-pregnant-people-in-crisis/#x
Fox News: My Baby Saved My Life. Now I Help Save Others
I chose life for my daughter 10 years ago. If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t be here today.
At 20 years old, I had gone down a very dark path and thought that coping with years of abuse and assault meant immersing myself in drugs, alcohol and risky behavior. I had no goals or motivation to disrupt this lifestyle, which was numbing my pain.
My positive pregnancy test was the one thing that jolted me back to reality, as I stared in terror at the two pink lines in that little window.
I scrambled through my fog of emotion and fear to think about what this meant. I knew that I was carrying life — that it wasn’t just me anymore — but I had no money, and my family refused to support me. I didn’t know how I would make it, but I was determined to figure it out for my baby’s sake.
EWTN Pro-Life Weekly: 2022-09-15
Danielle joins EWTN Pro-Life Weekly’s Prudence Robertson to share her story. Ten years ago, Danielle chose life for her daughter. Local Virginia Maternity Home, Paul Stefan Home, was there with her every step of the way offering resources and support.
CBN News QuickStart Podcast: “My Baby Saved My Life – Now I Help Save Others”
Danielle joins CBN News to share how she chose life for her daughter and found a home and supportive community at Virginia maternity home Paul Stefan Home.
Fox & Friends: Paul Stefan Foundation Focuses on Empowering and Supporting Pregnant Women
Randy, co-founder of Virginia maternity home, Paul Stefan Home, joins Kayleigh McEnany on Fox & Friends to discuss his work to offer hope and support to women facing unexpected pregnancies. Danielle and Brooke, two moms who have found refuge and hope at the home, share their stories.
Fox News: Maternity Homes across the Country Give Women the Courage to Become Mothers
“I really didn’t know what to do,” she told Fox News Digital. “I had just lost my job, just losing everything, I was falling behind on rent, just lost my vehicle, so at the time, having an abortion sounded like a good idea. But still, in the back of my mind, I didn’t want to have an abortion.”
She ultimately ended up at Mary’s Shelter, where she gave birth to her third child.
