St. Monica Home Benefits from Corporal Work of Mercy

St-Monica-Home-Benefits-from-Corporal-Work-of-MercyMembers of Girl Scout Juniors Troop 221, from St. Mary School in Crown Point, recently donated items for young mothers and their infants to St. Monica Home, which is on the grounds of Franciscan St. Margaret Health-Dyer.

Among the items were body wash, clothing, toys, lotions and wipes. The effort was the idea of troop members Avery Van Senus and Mea Sanders, who said they were inspired during a religion class discussion of corporal works of mercy. “We wanted to find a way to help the less fortunate; to help women and children,” Van Senus said.

St. Monica manager Liz Guzman-Arredondo commended the girls for incorporating faith in their scouting activities.

“This is what Jesus wants us to do. It is our mission to help people – teens and their babies who have no place to go – to help them mend fences with their families. We are proud of these young mothers for choosing to have their babies and wanting to be moms; every life is important,” she added.

Troop co-leaders Kammi Sanders and Angie Van Senus-Blaze likewise expressed pride in the fourth-grade girls, who, from left, are Emily Wake, Katie Mumaugh, Regan Leader, Madilyn Hussey, Allyson Olchawa, Avery Van Senus, Mea Sanders, Erin Doyle, Winter Gonzalez, Gracie Ferber and Josephine Polk.

St. Monica Home, since 1994, has offered a medically sound and emotionally healthy residential environment for women aged 12 to 21 who are awaiting the birth of a child or have recently given birth. Residents, whose average length of stay is nine months, learn positive relationships and parenting skills under the guidance of experienced resident advisers.

For more information or to make a donation, call (219) 865-2141, ext. 45284.