Birthright volunteer: donations have real impact on the pro-life cause
(SNR) – The 13th annual pro-life diaper drive is underway in parishes across the Diocese of Lincoln, with the goal of collecting 90,000 diapers for pregnancy centers in southern Nebraska.
The drive, held in October of each year, is sponsored by the Lincoln Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (LDCCW). The LDCCW is an organization of all Catholic women in the Diocese of Lincoln. Organized in 1932, the LDCCW has undertaken dozens of projects which fulfill the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
All parishes in the Diocese of Lincoln are asked to collect donated diapers that will be shared with diocesan pregnancy centers, Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska and St. Gianna Women’s Homes, Birthright and the Women’s Care Center in Lincoln. 
Marty Miller, a volunteer with Birthright in Lincoln, said the diapers donated to Birthright and other pro-life organizations in the diocese have a real impact on the pro-life cause.
“After a couple of decades as a volunteer,” she said, “I have seen first-hand the influence that a simple pack of diapers could have on a pregnancy and the subsequent birth of an unborn baby.”
She shared a story in which a client called the Birthright office saying she simply “wanted to get diapers and a few outfits for her baby” who was a few months old.
However, Miller explained, when the woman arrived at the office, she had a second request—a pregnancy test.
“The fact that she did not want to state needing a test over the phone was a bit of a red flag to our counselor,” Miller said.
The volunteer and client went into a private counseling room and the woman emotionally shared her story—her husband said they couldn’t have another baby so soon because it would “cost too much” to have two babies in diapers at the same time.
Miller said the woman knew Birthright would help her find a way to overcome her husband’s objections.
“Our counselor spoke privately with her for over an hour. We let her choose both a newborn girl and boy outfit from our ‘baby closet’ to take home—so while she waited through her pregnancy, she could imagine her new little one.”
They also promised the woman could pick up diapers for both children once a month for the next two years.
“She left the office that day full of hope,” Miller shared.
Not only would each child have diapers for two years, but the mother was referred to a pro-life doctor, given pre-natal vitamins and promised other needd items closer to her due date.
“When we followed up with her the following week, she was happy that her husband had agreed that things would work out,” Miller said.
“Her anxiety had disappeared and her baby was born several months later. Who would have thought that a simple thing like ensuring that an unborn baby would have diapers would make the difference in the outcome of a pregnancy?”
She stressed that most voluneers have similar stories.
Miller added that Birthright does not forget women and girls once their babies are born, as many abortion advocates erroneously suggest about pro-life pregnancy centers.
“Every woman and girl will always have a friend at Birthright for as long as they decide to,” she said. “Since Birthright of Lincoln began in 1971, we have filled the needs of women and will continue—even if that need is a simple package of diapers—given generously by a Christ-like donor.”
To assist with the LDCCW diaper drive, diapers may be donated at any diocesan parish. The greatest need is for sizes 5 and 6.
Monetary donations may also be made by mail to Kay Wessel at 3600 W. Wittstruck Rd, Martell, NE 68404. Checks should be made payable to Lincoln Diocesan Council of Catholic Women or LDCCW.
