Spring 2015

“ It is the Right of every pregnant Woman to give Birth and the Right of every Child to be Born”

In This Issue

“ It is the Right of every pregnant Woman to give Birth and the Right of every Child to be Born”

From the Director’s Desk — Sandra Baker

Over the last few months it seems that people on limited and/or fixed incomes

are having more and more difficulty making ends meet. This is particularly true

of many of our Birthright clients and is reflected in the fact that we are receiving

many more requests for emergency help with things such as diapers and formula.

The days of using cloth diapers are gone; it is difficult to even find them on the

market and even if our clients were in possession of some, most do not have

laundry facilities in their place of residence and would have to deal with trans-

porting them to a Laundromat as well as the cost of washing them there.

The Food Banks do provide both diapers and formula but their supplies

are limited and babies cannot be constantly switched from one brand of

formula to another just because that is what is available.

Formula is another whole issue. At Birthright we try to encourage our

clients to breastfeed because it is healthier for both mother and baby, pro-

motes bonding, and is of course much less expensive than buying for-

mula. However, it appears that there is limited support at the hospital for

first-time mothers who wish to breastfeed. For a time there was no lacta-

tion consultant available and although I am informed that there is now

one there, I’m sure that it is difficult for one person to provide support

for all the patients who could use the help. In addition, new mothers

spend such a short time in hospital after giving birth that it is difficult to

establish breastfeeding before they go home. There are several organiza-

tions in the city that will provide help to new mothers who

wish to breastfeed but again it is an issue of providing the

right information at the right time.

In the coming months Birthright Lethbridge plans to place

a major focus on breastfeeding, encouraging all our preg-

nant clients to consider breastfeeding, and hopefully pro-

viding them with literature which will inform them and

encourage them to breastfeed.

Our individual donations have been down somewhat in

the last year while our expenses for client support have

been up. We hope that you will consider donating in order

to help our clients in need and especially to help in this

breast feeding initiative because it is a major health issue as

well as a financial one.

From Director’s Desk 1

Annual General Mtg 1

Bingo Report 2

Is There Room in this World? 3

Why I Volunteer 3

I am a Mother 4

.Contact Information 4

New Treasurer 2

People Touch our Lives 3

Birthright 35 yeas Celebrate 2

Birthright Lethbridge AGM

When : Wednesday, April 29,2015

Time: 7:00 pm

Where : CASA Community Room

Speaker: Denise Fedunec

—Volunteer Resource Coordinator-Topic: " “Building Healthy Children, Healthy

Families, Healthy Communities”

Refreshments — Everyone Welcome– door prizes

35 years in Lethbridge 1979—2015

Page 2 The Birth Writer

Bingo Report

The bingo event continues to be a reliable source

of $1,200, or more, monthly income for Birth-

right. In order to give the dedicated volunteers a

bit of a break, the Birthright board recently de-

cided to roll back from 12 events per year to 10

per year. As a result there is no July or January

event and most of our bingos fall upon Monday

evenings between 5 and 10 pm.

We are always in need of volunteers. It takes 14

workers to run a bingo. If you or someone in your

family would like to volunteer, please give Shaun

Ward a call at 403 381 2965 or

sward55@gmail.com. The only requirement is to

be over 18 years of age; have a comfortable pair of

shoes and a desire to help Birthright provide a

listening ear and some resources to girls and

women who have difficult decisions to make.

This year marks 35 years of Birthright activity in

the city of Lethbridge. That would not have hap-

pened without dedicated staff and volunteers. Nor

would it have happened without a reliable income

stream from donors and fund raising efforts such

as bingo. Thanks to all Birthright volunteers every-

where

The color and beauty of Spring enrich us

in ways no other season can.—Rosemary Winters

Birthright Lethbridge New Treasurer

— Cassandra Vanee

I am honoured to become Treasurer of Birthright

Lethbridge and am looking forward to networking

with new people and serving in the community.

I was born and raised in Fort Macleod and love South-

ern Alberta living. I am married to a wonderful hus-

band and we have 4 grown children, 3 of which are

married, so we have almost doubled our family

size. We also have one grandson who is our pride and

joy.

After graduating high school I was hired at Young

Parkyn McNab LLP Chartered Accountants and re-

main there still after 27 years. I love accounting and

numbers and love being able to help clients solve their

accounting problems.

I have recently taken up the game of golf, it has

proven to be both rewarding and frustrating at the

same time. I also enjoy reading, scrapbooking and

camping .

Birthright Lethbridge to Celebrate 35th Anniversary

The "Top of the Grandstand" at Exhibition Park has been booked for Saturday, 27th June, 12.30 pm to

4.30pm for a celebration to mark 35 Years of Lethbridge Birthright.

The celebration will take place in the privacy of the Colonel MacLeod Room on the 5th floor of the Grand-

stand with a clear view of horse racing.

A wide variety of warm and cold "finger foods"; cheeses; pastries, deserts and refreshments will be available.

Adults and children should be able to find something to suite their taste.

Door prizes may include the opportunity for the winner's family and friends to have their photo in the

winners circle with a winning horse and owner.

Those interested in placing a small bet ($2 minimum) on a horse of their choice will be able to get help from

"Betting Buddies" who will be on hand to lead novice bettors through the intricacies of Win, Place, Show as

well as how to read the Racing Program.

A free "Racing Program" showing all the races, horses and jockeys will be available for guests.

(Continued to Celebrate on page 3)

Page 3 The Birth Writer

People Touch Our Lives

People important to you, people unimportant to you,

cross your life, touch it with love and carelessness,

and move on. There are people that leave you, and

you breathe a sigh of relief, and you wonder why you

every came in contact with them. There are people

who leave, and you breathe a sigh of remorse, and

wonder why they had to go and leave such a gaping

hole.

Children leave parents, friends leave friends, ac-

quaintances move on. You think on the many who

have moved into your life with hazy memory. You

look on those present and wonder.

I believe in God’s master plan for our lives.

People move in and out of each other’s lives, and

each leaves his mark on the other. You find you are

made up of bits and pieces of all who have touched

your life, and you are moved because of it, and you

would be less if they had not touched you.

Pray to God that you can accept the bits and pieces in

humility and wonder and never question, and never

regret.

Is There Room in This World for Me?

by: Louise Summerhill, Founder of Birthright

Is there room in your life for me

For the child you still cannot see

I’m not very strong, only two inches long,

But I know God wants me to be.

Is there room in your heart for this-little boy

I know I can bring you a great deal of joy

I have so much to give, if you just let me live

I promise not to annoy.

Please tell my mother for me,

Tell her this is my plea,

I want my Birthright, I'm so small I can’t fight,

Tell her God wants me to be.

Help my mother to cope,

Love her and give her some hope

To make room in her life

To mike-room in her heart

To make room in her world for me.

BIRTHRIGHT LETHBRIDGE is on FACE-

BOOK

Come and join as a friend or fan of Birthright. at

http://www.facebook.com Stay connected!

Why I Volunteer With Birthright

Lethbridge —- Anna – A New office Volunteer

I first heard about Birthright from another volun-

teer, Lidia. She told me of this wonderful oppor-

tunity that she’d gotten and how fulfilling it was.

The thought of volunteering at Birthright ap-

pealed to me because I really wanted to partake in

a volunteer commitment that would enable me to

interact one on one with people and to truly

make a difference in their lives. After all, preg-

nancy is a very critical period in the life of a

woman. Having a good and caring support system

can make an immense difference for women go-

ing through such a sensitive time. It is also won-

derful because the values of Birthright coincide

very much with mine. Too often women think

they have no other option save for abortion due

to simply not being aware of the help that they

could receive in keeping and raising their child.

This is why it is so important that there is a re-

source such as Birthright and it makes me very

excited to be part of the team!

For younger children there is a playground and

mini-petting zoo to the south of the grandstand.

Post time is 1 pm for the first race.

Birthright volunteers, office staff, bingo volun-

teers, their families and supportive friends are

all invited to this free Gala Event to celebrate

35 years of Birthright service in Lethbridge and

district.

Birthright invites every supporter to "come and

go as you please" to this unique celebratory re-

ception at the "Top of the Grandstand".

(Continued from Celebrate page 2)

The Birth Writer Page 4

Birthright Lethbridge Direc-

tors

Exec-Director -Sandra Baker

Past Director Barbara Spiess

-

Board of Directors

Kathy Tratch

Margaret Humphries

Joanne Krywalt

Christian Loew

Cassandra Vanee

Gerald Wright

Sr. Bernie Gaetz

Larry Spiess

Newsletter Editor

Larry Spiess

Free Services Offered:

Caring & Listening

Personalized Support

Referrals to Community Services

Maternity Clothes

Baby Clothes

Newborn Layettes

Pregnancy Tests

Birthright is:

Confidential

Non-political

Non-judgmental

Inter-denominational

All Volunteer

A Registered Charity

Referrals for Assistance include: Medical Financial Education & Job Options Nutrition , Housing

We make the commitment to help

women in crisis, single or married,

regardless of age, race or religion.

BIRTHRIGHT BIRTHRIGHT BIRTHRIGHT BIRTHRIGHT

LETHBRIDGELETHBRIDGELETHBRIDGELETHBRIDGE

#503, 740 4 Ave S

Lethbridge AB T1J 0N9

Ph 320-1003 Fax 320-1008

Hot Line 1-800-550-4900

www.birthright.org

Email: brthrtla@telus.net

FACEBOOK

Birthright Serving

Lethbridge and District

for over35 35 35 35 years

I am a Mother

She is scared, she is alone. She may be

a teen; she may be in her twenties or

thirties. She loves her baby, but she

feels she has no choice. The world, the

media, popular culture, her friends,

her family -- even the baby's father -- all

tell her she has no choice. A baby is a

burden. Enjoy your life, don't be

weighed down. We cannot -- we will

not -- support you. Abort that "thing"

and move on.

But something inside her tells her

"no!" She knows she is carrying a hu-

man life. She knows she is carrying her

baby.

That little voice inside her head -- that

instinctive feeling that something is

wrong -- that is the work of grace. That

is the power of your prayers. That is

the power of her guardian angel plead-

ing with her soul to love her baby.

She is a mother, and she knows it. The

healing power of that small yet life

changing powerful epiphany is beyond

measure. She is a mother. She will love

her baby, she will keep her child and

she will raise her baby as only she can.

Those powerful moments -- those in-

stances that save lives -- come as a re-

sult of our faithfully praying for her.

We must never stop.

This Mother's Day as you think about

how beloved and cherished your

mother is to you, know that this same

love can transform lives. Those women

who are afraid -- who have been lied to

by the world -- need our prayers. "I am

a mother" changes everything. Our

prayers for her can make all the differ-

ence. Our prayers for her can be the

trumpet of truth that opens her heart

in that beautiful moment where she

realizes, I am a mother.

Please join us this Mother's Day as we pray for

mothers everywhere who are at risk to the

horrors of abortion. Mothers deserve better,

they deserve the beauty and majesty of that

little life they are nurturing.

Our prayers work and save lives every day.

Join us in a Mother's Day prayer for those

beautiful women most at risk that they hear

that tiny voice that says, "I love you mommy."