June--July 2009

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SUCCESS STORIES (true stories but the names have been changed to protect privacy)

Joetta has a small daughter between 3 and 4 years old. The child’s father has been arrested and will be incarcerated for ten years. Woman to Woman provided Joetta with items to help her in her need.

Luiza from Guatemala has a new baby. She and her husband both work but don’t make enough money to cover even the rent. Woman to Woman helped them with items and referrals.

Sandi’s friend Tina just had a new baby. Tina is trying to decide whether or not to parent or to choose adoption. Woman to Woman provided baby clothing and other items for the baby while Tina decides.

Mark is a single father of a fourteen month old son. The baby’s mother has no involvement with her child. Woman to Woman provided Mark with baby clothing and baby care items.

JoyAnn’s friend emailed Woman to Woman, seeking abortion information for JoyAnn who might be pregnant. Woman to Woman emailed back, encouraging JoyAnn to come in and receive our help in bringing her baby to birth. Please pray for JoyAnn. We are waiting to hear from her as this newsletter goes to press.

BABY BOTTLE BOOMERANG UPDATES

Maria Dadlez, chairperson of the Baby Bottle Boomerang Fundraisers, asks if more parishes might participate in the boomerangs during the summer months. Please call Maria Dadlez at 401/245-8039 to arrange a Baby Bottle Boomerang Campaign. Woman to Woman will provide the bottles.

THANKS

Thanks to Elizabeth Watts for spreading the word about Woman to Woman and for being such a thoughtful, kind supporter for women in need. And thanks to Francine Roache, Jim Morin, and Betty Birkhofer for ALL the office, secretarial, wood working, and bookkeeping work done gratis by them. 

Thanks to Monique LeMare, Will Cayre, Mary Clark, Lee Clark, and Barbara Brugman who came in on National Day of Prayer to pray with Good Shepherd Gift Shop customers and Woman to Woman Support Network clients.

Thanks to all volunteers at Good Shepherd Gift Shop, the proceeds of which go to support Woman to Woman Support Network. They are Manny Rodrigues, Manager, Ada Rudnick, Assistant Manager, Doris Sullivan, Sharon LaValle, Beth Paris, Patrice Connelly, Barbara Brugman, Janet Abraham, Vicky Walsh, Kathy Gineo, Cheryl Golda, John Davis, Joseph Matose, and Kay-Marie Nugent. We also thank Ruth Lauth who worked at the Good Shepherd Gift Shop since its opening but who has been unable to work since breaking her hip (she is doing well, thank God.)

Thanks to those who work at Woman to Woman: Colette Rodrigues, Director, Jamie Rodrigues, Assistant Director,. Pat Terlisner, Marian McAndrews, Maryann Mastririo, Amanda Carter, Lee Edwards, Liz Morris.

Thanks to Louise Brown for sorting baby clothing at our extra storage location in Middletown.

Thanks to all those who have made wonderful donations of baby clothing and baby care items to Woman to Woman but who have chosen to remain anonymous. Thanks to Christy Loman for donating baby clothing and many baby furniture items. Thanks to Kelly Williams for her donation of 10 boxes of diapers, 10 boxes of wipes, and a baby swing.

Thanks to an anonymous benefactor who donated hard wood to make special order profession crosses for the Third Order of Mount Carmel. This benefactor asked only for prayers for his business, health, workers, and family. Thanks to Paul Boudreau for making the crosses. Donations for these will go to Woman to Woman..

FUNDRAISER UPDATES

Thanks to All Saints Academy for allowing Woman to Woman to use the school for our Giant Indoor Yard sale on April 18. Approximately $2000 profit was made from this sale. This included a generous $500 donation from a benefactor. Thanks to all who donated and helped with this. It was a big job.

Manny Rodrigues and Margaret Rhoades organized few yard sale tables at a Navy Wives yard sale fundraiser and netted about $300 for Woman to Woman. Thanks to Barbara Brugman for hosting a yard sale at her house for Woman to Woman. It brought in approximately $200. Thanks to Patrice Connelly for manning a yard sale table at St. Clare’s Home ($75profit) and at Madeline and Jim Nugent’s house ($234 profit).

Thanks to the Newman Club and prolife group at Roger Williams University who collected $85 in cash as well as two small boxes of personal care items for moms.

Thanks to Ruth Ann Petree for hosting a marvelous House Tour for Woman to Woman. Over $541 was raised.

BABY SHOWER

Saint Mark’s Church in Jamestown is hosting a baby shower for Woman to Woman. Perhaps your group would like to do the same. Please call Woman to Woman at 401-841-9211 to arrange for this.

TRUTH BOOTH

Thanks so much to Michael and Maria Anthon, Lauren and Joe Robenhymer, and Laurie and Michael Casey for donating a “Truth Booth” to Woman to Woman. The Truth Booth shows 4-D, moving ultrasound photos of the developing baby in the womb. A very beautiful and accurate depiction of life in the womb. We had this at our Giant Indoor Yard Sale and it received much positive attention. If you are interested in having a speaker come and share the Truth Booth with your group, please contact us.

4-H FAIR TABLES

Woman to Woman and the Good Shepherd Gift Shop will have two tables at the 4-H Fair in the Glen in Portsmouth on July 18 and 19. We’ll be featuring a children’s fish pond and paint your own birdhouses as well as some gently used items and gifts. Could you help with this for a few hours? Call Madeline Nugent at 401/849-5421.

LOOKING FOR MONTHLY DONORS OF $20 PER MONTH

Thanks to the three benefactors who are currently contributing $20 per month to help pay our Newport City Taxes. We need 17 more people to pledge this monthly payment. Your donation is tax deductible. Please consider helping us pay this bill! If anyone feels that he or she can convince the Newport City Council to grant Woman to Woman an exemption from the property tax (which they could do as Woman to Woman is non profit and tax exempt), we invite you to contact anyone on the Board of Directors for information to present to the Council.

PLEASE CONSIDER OFFERING  YOUR HOUSE AS A YARD SALE LOCATION

Patrice Connolley and Manny Rodrigues are working together to set up yard sales to benefit Woman to Woman. Woman to Woman can provide the items and the advertising and the help to man the yard sale. All we need from you is your garage, yard, porch, or driveway. Please call Manny at 741-6099 if you can host one of these sales.

BOOK SIGNING AT GOOD SHEPHERD GIFT SHOP

Father John Randall, STD, will be signing his newest book No Spirit, No Church at the Good Shepherd Gift Shop, 164 Broadway, Newport, from 1 to 3 pm on Saturday, June 20. Father Randall’s new book, which was reviewed in the Rhode Island Catholic, retails for $10 and discusses the critical role that the Holy Spirit plays in salvation history. No Spirit, No Church is currently on sale at the Good Shepherd Gift Shop. The book contains many personal experiences and has received excellent reviews.

SAVE YOUR CLEMENT’S MARKET CASH REGISTER RECEIPTS

Clement’s Market is a large grocery located on East Main Road in Portsmouth, a few blocks from St. Anthony’s Church. Clement’s will donate to Woman to Woman 1% of the total cash register receipts turned in to them and designated for Woman to Woman. Let your groceries earn money for Woman to Woman! Here’s how:

1.        If you already shop at Clement’s, save your cash register receipts.

2.        If you don’t shop at Clement’s, consider shopping there.

3.        Ask your neighbors and family members to save their Clement’s receipts.

Turn your receipts in to Mary Ann Hand (401-862-2875, 401-293-0410) in Portsmouth, Marian McAndrews in Tiverton (401/624-3777), Madeline Nugent in Middletown (401/849-5421) or bring them to the Good Shepherd Gift Shop or Woman to  Woman Support Network at 164 Broadway Newport (mark the envelope “Clement’s Market Receipts for Marian McAndrew in Woman to Woman Support Network.”). Thanks to all who help with this and who save their receipts for Woman to Woman.

FALL FESTIVAL

Saturday, September 12, from 9 am until 3 pm at All Saints' Academy, 915 West Main Road, Middletown. Food. Kiddie games. Yard sale. Raffle. Baked goods. Lots of fun and some surprises.

Free admission. To donate baked goods, toys in good condition, yard sale items, new raffle prizes including gift certificates, please call Madeline Nugent at 401/849-5421. We will need lots of help with this major fundraiser. Please call Madeline and volunteer.

DINNER AND FASHION SHOW

CATHEDRAL BIRD HOUSE RAFFLE

Paul Boudreau got creative with two birdhouses and we are raffling them off to raise funds. First prize “The Cardinal’s Cathedral” (pictured). Second prize: “The Priest’s Parsonage” (a natural wood church similar to the Cardinal’s Cathedral). Tickets 50c each or 3/$1. Available at the Good Shepherd Gift Shop where both bird houses are on display. Or use the enclosed tickets and return to the Good Shepherd Gift Shop. The bird houses will be raffled off at the Fall Festival need not be present to win.

ADVENT WREATHS

Evelyn Cayre is coordinating an Advent Wreath fundraiser to prepare for Christmas. Wreaths available mid-November. $20 per finished wreath. Photos and more information in the next newsletter.

YANKEE CANDLE FUNDRAISER

Sue Wilkinson and Carole Devine are coordinating a Yankee Candle Fundraiser in early September. More information in the next newsletter.

MONTHLY BENEFACTORS CRITICAL TO WOMAN TO WOMAN

Monthly benefactors are critical to Woman to Woman Support Network. The women and babies need your ongoing help, even if you can give only a few dollars per month.

There are four ways to become a monthly benefactor:

1.        Mail your check monthly to Woman to Woman Support Network, in the Sunrise Centre, 164 Broadway, Newport RI 02840.

2.        Come into the Good Shepherd Gift Shop monthly and drop your donation into the large donation jar near the cash register.

3.        Use the online donation button at http://www.womantowomansupport.net/donate.htm to make a monthly donation on line with your credit card or Pay Pal.

4.        Complete a transaction with your bank to have your donation automatically transferred from your account to Woman to Woman’s account each month. Contact Angela Barek at amparquette@cox.net or call her at (401) 253-0094 to arrange this.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

The Good Shepherd Gift Shop and Woman to Woman both need volunteers to work a few hours per week. The Gift Shop is also in need of “floaters,” workers who are able to work in the Gift Shop when a regularly scheduled worker cancels. Please call the Gift Shop at 401/619-4911 or Woman to Woman at 401/841-9211 to volunteer.

The volunteers at Woman to Woman Support Network and in the Good Shepherd Gift Shop have developed a family like bond with one another. When someone has a problem, each volunteer is there for the others. All pray for the one in need and support one another. One of the  volunteer advisors at Woman to Woman, for example, went to Florida for three months to care for a friend who has cancer. She has been in touch by phone and email with other volunteers and many prayers are ascending for the sick friend.

Consider becoming a volunteer at Woman to Woman or the Good Shepherd Gift Shop. Your help is needed and much appreciated. You will be trained!

CAN YOU SORT BABY CLOTHING?

Madeline and Jim Nugent currently keep our overflow baby clothing in the basement of their home in Middletown. Volunteers are needed to sort this clothing either at the Nugent house or in your own home. The clothing goes back to Woman to Woman to be given free to clients, but it is also available to others for a donation to Woman to Woman. Call Madeline Nugent at 849-5421 to help or for more information.

CUSTOM PRINTED PRAYER CARDS, HOLY CARDS, INVITATIONS, REMEMBRANCE CARDS

The Good Shepherd Gift Shop now offers a variety of beautiful, full color prayer cards, holy cards, remembrance cards, and invitations (invitations for First Communion and Confirmation only). These can be viewed on line at www.goodshepherdgiftshop.com (look on the On Line Store link). They can also be seen in the Good Shepherd Gift Shop in a loose leaf binder under the check out counter. These can be printed with text and prayers of your choice. Images on the cards include Praying Hands, Head of Christ, Angel and Baby, Guardian Angel, Jesus and Children, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Assorted Communion Chalices, Scripture and Nature, Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Traditional Images of Mary and Baby Jesus, Confirmation Cards, El Nino, First Communion Boy and Girl, Bride and Groom, Jesus’ Embrace, and Assorted Babies. Please contact Madeline Nugent at 401/849-5421 regarding printing. Cards must be ordered in multiples of 8 prayer cards for $2 or 4 invitations (and envelopes) for $2. Prayer cards can be laminated for an additional $2 per 8 cards. Those who have already ordered these have been very pleased.

INVITE WOMAN TO WOMAN AND THE GOOD SHEPHERD GIFT SHOP TO YOUR ORGANIZATION OR BODY OF WORSHIP

We would love to present our services and goods to your organization or body of worship. Call Madeline Nugent at 401/849-5421 to arrange this.

CREDIT CARDS, SPECIAL ORDERS

The Good Shepherd Gift Shop can order items if they are not in stock. We can also take credit cards. The Gift Shop offers a fine selection of tasteful but inexpensive inspirational gifts as well as religious items.

Woman to Woman Support Network. In the Sunrise Centre, 164 Broadway, Newport RI 02840 

401/841-9211

Little Flower Florals and Joseph Matose, Newport Artist, are also located in the Sunrise Center and have the same hours of operation as the Good Shepherd Gift Shop. Please consult the websites for more information: 

Disclaimer: Woman to Woman Support Network provides free guidance, support, information, materials, and referral. It does not provide medical procedures or counseling. Please see a licensed physician or counselor for such services.