Ministry aims to help parents in need with childcare supplies

Published 6:39 pm Thursday, June 27, 2024

Walking with Moms in Need (WWMIN), a new outreach ministry designed to assist parents in need of childcare supplies opened this week at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. 

The program provides free diapers and other essentials to families in the community.

WWMIN was initiated by Catholic parishes nationwide to address the needs of mothers within their respective communities. 

Locally, a survey conducted through Sacred Heart revealed a significant need for assistance in purchasing diapers. 

“One of the things that we found right away was that there are a lot of moms asking for help buying diapers,” explained Mary Short, a member of the WWMIN Core Group at Sacred Heart Church. “We decided that would be a good starting point for our agency.”

In response to the need, Sacred Heart’s WWMIN organized a diaper drive within the parish, garnering about 6,000 diapers within the first few weeks. The diapers are now ready to be distributed to parents in need, with each registered family receiving 50 diapers per month. The diapers are labeled by size to ensure that families receive the appropriate supplies for their children.

 “Each WWMIN program, as they are begun in different parishes around the country, is going to look different from the next one, because they’re working with the specific needs in their own community,” said Short. “The ultimate goal is to help parents reach their potential and become independent.”

Beyond diapers, WWMIN also offers support to parents seeking other essential supplies, such as clothing and car seats.

WWMIN accepts contributions to sustain its ministry. The church plans to hold regular donation collections at its parish to ensure a steady supply of diapers and other necessities. 

“We will be happy to stock and distribute diapers if other churches and parishes in the area do diaper drives,” Short said.

Sacred Heart’s WWMIN is also working with other similar agencies in the area, including the Golden Hour Foundation, which advocates for motherhood and mothers in need. 

To access the supplies provided by WWMIN, parents are required to register for the program. Registration involves presenting a valid WIC or SNAP card, a photo ID, and a copy of a child’s birth certificate. 

WWMIN operates on Tuesdays from 1 to 3 p.m., excluding major holidays. The ministry is located in Aquinas Hall at Sacred Heart Church, 110 N. Jefferson St NE, Milledgeville.

For more information about WWMIN and its services, email WWMINmilly@gmail.com.