Council 4620’s Right to Life Projects are Making a Difference in Crown Point
In 2019, Cardinal Stritch Council #4620 committed funds to two community projects that were designed to give women a healthy alternative to pregnancy termination. Council #4620 Right To Life Committee chairman John Pisowicz introduced the council members to The Women’s Center of Northwest Indiana in Crown Point, who were in need of a new ultrasound.
Established in 1989, the Women’s Center of Northwest Indiana (formally the Lake County Women’s Center) is a non-for-profit organization whose goal is to show the love of Christ in our communities by ministering to women and their families who are considering or vulnerable to abortion. The Center promotes the value of unborn human life, and make available all the means necessary to those making hard decisions about the life of their unborn child, including free limited services like ultrasound examinations.
Cardinal Stritch Council #4620 and the Indiana Knights of Columbus State Council, through Culture of Life Director Mike Velasco, along with other benefactors assisted the Center with donations making it possible to purchase a new ultrasound for the Crown Point center.
Women’s Center of Northwest Indiana director Jackie Moffitt said that with Crown Point getting a new ultrasound, it makes it possible another location to obtain an ultrasound. According to Ms. Moffitt, the new ultrasound was instrumental in changing the mind of the first client examined with it.
Shortly after the council helped the Women’s Center, we were approached by Dave Crane, the Crown Point Fire Chief, who informed us that they were in the process of installing a Safe Haven Baby Box in the fire station.
Although the initial funding was made possible by an a sizable donation from an anonymous donor, they needed one more sponsor to get this installation completed. The Cardinal Stritch Council unanimously voted to donate to finish the project.
The Crown Point Safe Haven Baby Box is the 19th Safe Haven Baby Box located in the state of Indiana and is the first box installed with bilingual instructions.
“Once the mom shuts the door, the door will no longer open until we clear the alarm, so that no one in the meantime can take that infant out,” said Crown Point Fire Chief Dave Crane. “When she opens the door there’s a pamphlet that drops out and gives her information and gives her more choices and avenues for help.”
Two months after being installed in the wall of the fire station, a healthy newborn baby was surrendered safely into the Crown Point Safe Haven Baby Box. At the time, it was the fourth baby surrendered in a baby box since 2017 according to Monica Kelsey, CEO and founder of Safe Haven Baby Boxes.
On August 31, 2020, Crown Point High School baseball coach Steve Strayer and his wife, Jennifer, officially adopted the baby, Charlotte Sue Ann Strayer.
Strayer holds Charlotte’s birth mother in high regard.
“She could have aborted her,” he said. “We think this is a great thing. A lot of people that have abortions feel guilty afterward or wonder what the baby would’ve been like. There are a lot of people that want babies that can’t have them. Her mom is the real hero. We give glory to God. We are fortunate. She’s been a blessing to us. She’s absolutely adorable.”
Contributing sources were ABC7, NWI Times and the Post Tribune