Volunteers and donations needed for Birthline ministry
Criterion staff report
Birthline, a ministry of the archdiocesan Office of Human Life and Dignity, is located on the bottom floor of the Archbishop Edward T. O’Meara Catholic Center, 1400 N. Meridian St., in Indianapolis. Through donated clothes, bottles, blankets, diapers and other items, Birhtline provides assistance to struggling pregnant women and mothers of infants.
There are several ways to help the ministry: as a volunteer, by donating items and by donating funds.
Volunteering
Helpline: At least nine volunteers are currently needed. Helpline volunteers work from home and have client calls routed to their home phone or cell phone. Volunteers serve from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. or 1-4:30 p.m. on weekdays about every other week. Volunteers gather information from the client, enter it into a networked computer program and schedule client visits. Calls usually last from 5-15 minutes. Volunteers are provided in-home training.
Volunteers at the Catholic Center: Volunteers work from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30-3 p.m. on Mondays or Wednesdays. Tasks available include sorting donated clothes, creating outfits from donated clothes, creating layettes of needed items for expecting mothers, greeting and helping clients. Volunteers must be able to navigate up and down stairs and to stand for much of their shift. Those wanting to make layettes must be able to lift 15-20-pound containers of clothes.
Donating items
Birthline accepts new or gently used maternity and baby items. Donated items can be dropped off on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m-3 p.m. on the north side of the Catholic Center building. Enter the alley on the north side of the building via N. Meridian Street. There is no need to call prior to coming.
The following items are most needed: maternity clothing, boy’s and girl’s clothing from newborn through size 2T, diapers, baby formula, portable baby beds (no full-size cribs) and strollers. All donations are tax deductible. Birthline staff and volunteers have researched and compiled a list of the most economical stores to purchase items needed for Birthline. To see the recommended list, go to bit.ly/2OsE4j0 (case sensitive).
Donating funds
Monetary donations can be made online at bit.ly/2Op7lv3 (case sensitive), or checks or money orders can be made out to the Office of Human Life and Dignity and mailed to Archdiocese of Indianapolis, Attention: Birthline, Jená Hartman, 1400 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46202. †
Related story: Birthline provides pregnant women and mothers of infants ‘peace of mind’