Oct. 14, 2020

By Colleen Miner
Director, Diocesan Respect Life Office

October is Respect Life month. The USCCB Office of Pro-Life Activities chose the theme, “Live the Gospel of Life: Imitate Christ and follow in His footsteps.” Some were given the opportunity to fulfill this goal, in a unique way this year.

In August, the Respect Life Office was contacted by Birthright of Plattsburgh director Sally Fisher. Birthright had received a donation of over 400 maternity coats! Birthright’s goal was to give them all away by this fall. The director asked if the Respect Life Office knew of anyone who could benefit.

The coats are made to fit before, during and after pregnancy in a variety of sizes, colors and styles. Each coat includes a front panel that can be removed and flipped over to reveal a little cinch to hold the baby, so a new mom can carry her baby in her coat. The panel can be removed, and the coat zipped together to be worn after the baby is walking. As the tag states: “Baby In, Baby Out, Baby Free.”

The coats arrived on pallets of 100. Modern Eternity in Montreal donated the coats, which were being stored in a Champlain warehouse.

"It was a process to move them from the border to the Birthright office,” said Fisher. “The owner, Steven Lee, was not even allowed to come down to help, as the border has been closed due to COVID, so volunteers arranged for the pickup and transportation.”

Some coats were taken to Albany for southern Birthright chapters. A few ladies picked up their coats directly from Birthright in Plattsburgh. Over 100 were transported from Plattsburgh to the parish-based crisis pregnancy apostolates Gabriel Project in the Diocese of Ogdensburg. Ogdensburg, Gouverneur, Brasher Falls, Massena and Potsdam Gabriel Projects all have a supply of winter maternity coats. Additional coats were given to Malone Catholic Charities and St. Regis Mission on the Akwesasne Indian Reservation.

While the USCCB Walking With Moms initiative has been on hold due to COVID, our diocese has really stepped up to Walk with Moms during the winter months! It took some coordination, but all the coats are now delivered.
Thank you to Modern Eternity, Birthright and the many Gabriel Project angels who volunteer at their parish and to all those who work to imitate Christ and following in His footsteps.