Every year, the Campaign for Abortion Free Cities launches its annual Summer of Service, which kicks off in July and ends just past Labor Day. You may ask, what is the goal of our annual Summer of Service? 

It’s simple: to SERVE our neighbors and stand in the gap for women and families. Are you aware that 73% of our neighbors are unaware of local Pregnancy Help Centers (PHC)? Many women facing an unplanned pregnancy think their only option is Planned Parenthood. In reality, numerous centers and programs are willing to step in at no cost to serve these women and families in their time of need.  

While the abortion industry exploits women and families in vulnerable situations, the Pro-Life Generation (PLG) stands with women and families by partnering with local PHCs and going door to door in underserved areas, wagoning free diapers, wipes, blankets, sippy cups, and more to local families in need.   

This year, 18 Campaign for Abortion Free Cities locations participated. From those campaign locations, we were able to reach 2,100 neighbors and donate 250 diaper packs, 460 packs of wipes, and 180 additional baby items. The estimated value of diapers, wipes, and additional baby items is around $11,400.   

Keep reading to hear from leaders on the ground and remember to apply and host your Summer of Service next year!   

From Morgan Reece, Ann Arbor, MI, Campaign for Abortion Free Cities Leader: 

We passed out all the baby items! We gave out 8,532 wipes and 1,218 diapers, plus lots of sippy cups, formula, clothes, and more. We knocked on 119 doors, had 28 conversations, and hosted 15 activations.  

While knocking, my volunteer and I met Renee, who took a stack of our door hangers and put them in the neighborhood office so everyone would know about Standing With You (SWY).  Our mission moved Renee so much that she wanted to start volunteering and promoting SWY.

I walked her through how our door hangers connect women and families to life-affirming care. She was so excited that she asked to take some of our items and started going door to door to families in the community who she knew had babies and toddlers. 

From Jamie Ohio Regional Coordinator, Cincinnati, OH, Campaign for Abortion Free Cities Leader: 

In Cincinnati, our campaign served 25 families with more than 30 packs of diapers and 65 packs of wipes, some postpartum care items, more than 50 sippy cups, 20 bottles, formula, and baby food.  

Since our Summer of Service, our campaign leader, Samuel, has shared with our team that his sister, who works at our partner Pregnancy Help Center, encountered one of the families we had served during the summer. We are so thankful to be making a tangible impact through our annual Summer of Service! 

Sarah Wichael, Campaign for Abortion Free Cities Colorado Community Organizer: 

The Denver Campaign for Abortion Free Cities led two incredible Summer of Service trips, the first in partnership with Lighthouse Church. All 16 of us had the privilege of distributing over 2,000 diapers and 90 packets of wipes to the community in downtown Parker, which was a tremendous blessing for deeply grateful families. One gentleman expressed his thanks multiple times, sharing how much this support meant to him and his wife. 

Our volunteers were equally excited to have the opportunity to provide resources to their neighbors and educate them about local Pregnancy Help Centers that offer life-affirming care.

Victoria Trujillo, the Rocky Mountain Regional Coordinator, led our second Summer of Service. She shared with me that while serving the local Denver community, she met a pregnant woman who was thankful for the free resources. I am so happy we were able to help our local neighbors this summer! 

 Jessica Powers, Hartford, CT, Campaign for Abortion Free Cities Leader  

The Hartford Campaign for Abortion Free Cities held its first event, a huge success. We had six volunteers (some students and some community members) reach 188 neighbors and have 36 conversations with people who opened their doors. Additionally, I had connected with the Women’s Center of Eastern Connecticut to arrange their pregnancy resource van in Manchester from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a couple of days after our Summer of Service. That way, we could let our neighbors know that if they need immediate care or service, there will be a resource van in their neighborhood.  

One of the most memorable conversations of the day was meeting two neighbors who had loved ones facing an unexpected pregnancy and whom we could serve. We made one family’s grandmother cry joyfully when we said we could serve her family with free diapers and wipes.  

Gabriel Penner, Reno, NV, Campaign for Abortion Free Cities Leader:  

The Reno Campaign for Abortion Free Cities Summer of Service went off without a hitch. Not only were we able to reach 102 neighbors and serve them with diapers and wipes, but we were also able to educate our local Nevadans on Question 6, the upcoming Ballot Referendum. I spoke with one woman who, firstly, had no idea that Question 6 was even on the ballot, and secondly, was deeply disturbed by the fact that if this amendment passes, parental consent would be taken away, leaving minors to have abortions without their parent’s knowledge. Once she was made aware of this amendment’s extreme nature, she told me that she would not support this when it makes its way to the ballot in November. 

Nicole Hollmann, St. Louis, MO, Campaign for Abortion Free Cities Leader:  

The St. Louis Campaign for Abortion-Free Cities’ annual Summer of Service was a huge success! The first door we knocked on was a lady who was seven months pregnant. She had never heard of free pregnancy and parenting resources and was excited to learn more. She had me show her how to use the website on the phone, and I connected her with the information for the local Pregnancy Help Center to call.  

We met many families with babies and children who were so grateful for the supplies. I met one woman whose daughter was pregnant, so she got diapers, wipes, a blanket, and, of course, Standing With You information for her daughter. One of our volunteers, Marina, spoke with one man who said he knew some friends about to become dads. She connected him with the local PHC’s fatherhood program information to share with these men. 

A truly heartwarming story is of one man with a little four-year-old boy who just moved here from India. He was so excited about what we were doing and asked how he could get involved. He also mentioned wanting to find a community here in the United States, so I told him about my church, which has several families from India who have a Bible study for all Indian families.

I told my pastor, who called the man and invited him to join our community. He doesn’t have a car, so we arranged for someone to pick him up for church and Bible study. This was a beautiful moment where our community outreach connected someone with resources, community support, and fellowship.” 

Kristan Marais, Tampa, FL Campaign for Abortion Free Cities Leader:  

About five minutes into door-knocking for Summer of Service, a young mom and her two-year-old and newborn sons returned home from a long day at daycare and running errands. I approached the mom, offering her baby necessities and resources. She accepted gratefully and explained how she had just lost her job and struggled to make ends meet. I was able to educate her on SWY with free health care options.  

My volunteers and I reached 123 neighbors and distributed 312 diapers, wipes, baby clothes, and blankets to mothers and families in need. It was a special day!  

Alfonso Oliveras, Clifton Park, NY, Campaign for Abortion Free Cities Cohort Leader: 

This was my first time leading a Summer of Service in my hometown of Clifton Park. It was such a privilege to meet my local community where they are and let them know that there are incredible local resources available to them, not just abortion.

I am so happy that we were able to serve families. One family, in particular, giving them multiple packs of diapers. I am looking forward to going to other neighborhoods and serving them in the same way. 

Diane Matson, American Fork, UT Campaign for Abortion Free Cities Cohort Leader: 

The Summer of Service for the Campaign for Abortion-Free Cities in American Fork, Utah, was a success! My volunteer and I were able to reach numerous neighbors not just with your everyday diapers but with EveryLife diapers. I think the best part of the day was meeting a couple expecting twins, and we could supply twice what they needed for free.  

Learn more about the Campaign for Abortion Free Cities

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