Little Flower CYO hosts Skating for Life event
The Little Flower Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) raised $317 at an ice skating fundraiser “in honor and respect of the miracle of life” at Al Wentz Arena on Feb. 27.
Proceeds from the fundraiser, called Skating for Life, will pay for diapers and other baby items for the Women’s Care Center of Devils Lake. The center offers items to women in need through its Crib Club, a coupon-based store with formula, diapers, and other baby items.
Persons attending the event enjoyed a chance to skate during the afternoon, snack on treats baked by CYO members, and sip hot chocolate.
Allison Selensky, a CYO member, said the purpose of the event was “basically to get the word out about abortion and how you can save your baby, and about how there are so many more choices out there than having an abortion, so you can save a life, because Jesus gave life to that child.
“And this was just to get that (message) out and our CYO name out so people could learn what we’re all about,” Selensky added.
“We have three S’s — service, spiritual, and social,” Selensky said explaining the CYO’s mission and purpose behind the event. “For service, we’re serving our community by having something to bring people together. By social, we’re getting together with our community and being social. Spiritual is how Jesus can help you in tough times like that and letting (women with unplanned pregnancies) know there’s always someone they can talk to.”
She said the group raised money last year to buy items for the Women’s Care Center’s Crib Club. Some CYO members also took a tour of the facility.
Selensky said this year, “We’re going to buy diapers and wipes and things like that for the Women’s Care Center to really show how much we care and show the work we do to keep it going.”
To prepare for the event, CYO members set up a table to display pamphlets containing information on resources for pregnant women.
“We had a free-will donation collection container set up and I baked some goodies for the bake sale,” Selensky said. “We put our name out there, we put ads on the radio, and we made sure everyone would be comfortable and it was going smoothly. We had hot chocolate, bars, brownies, and cupcakes. It was all for free-will donations, so everyone could just take what they wanted and donate.”
Selensky added, “There were lots of people. It was a great turnout. We had many kids and many families. It was a great way to get together on a Sunday and get everyone to connect with each other.”
Briana Slaubaugh of the Women’s Care Center said the facility was grateful to receive the contributions from the Little Flower CYO.
“We greatly appreciate all our donations,” Slaubaugh said. “They go to great use. We had an awesome turnout from churches all over our region this January for our Largest Baby Shower. We had $5,900 worth of items donated. That’s really exciting and it will go to things for all the women in need in our region in Devils Lake and the surrounding area.”
Slaubaugh described some of the services Women’s Care Center offers women facing unplanned pregnancies.
“We provide pregnancy tests and ultrasounds and resources for women in all stages of life and pregnancy, and all different types of pregnancy. We also provide free confidential counseling,” she said.
“We have classes with goals and we have individualized lesson plans based on the needs of the clients,” Slaubaugh added. “We also have group parenting classes that cover a variety of topics related to parenting.
“For every class attended, a client earns 10 diapers and a coupon for our Crib Club. In the Crib Club, they can choose to purchase more diapers,” she said, naming the items available for new moms in need. “We have free formula, but they can get clothes, cribs, diaper bags – pretty much any baby item needed – strollers, things like that. They can also save up for bigger items and they can also earn coupons from our partners at WIC and their doctor’s office.”
Slaubaugh said the Women’s Care Center holds its Largest Baby Shower in January every year.
“The (event) does happen to fall in Pro Life Month, too,” she added.