St. Mary Catholic Church in Hudson opened local resources for pregnant and parenting mothers in need in early September when they started a Walking with Moms in Need Ministry.

The idea for the organization came from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, who encouraged churches throughout the country to engage in the program to provide a community-based outreach to pregnant and parenting women, said Susan Lettieri, senior coordinator of Walking with Moms in Need. 

“We could start with someone when they’re pregnant, but we work with them all the way through until they are self-sufficient,” Lettieri said. “We are just here to be a compassionate listening ear.”

The ministry is extending resources to those in Kent, Streetsboro, Twinsburg and Hudson. 

Sandra Austhof, the ministry’s head of marketing and advertising, said they want to be able to help Kent State students in need. As a Kent State alumni, she said she understands how scary it can be to feel alone. 

“We will stay with moms as long as they want us to,” Austhof said. “We don’t go by race, religion or anything like that. We’ll accept anybody. We’re just here, and it’s free. There’s no charge for them. Just love and hope.”

The ministry is designed to emotionally support parenting women. The area already has quite a few pregnancy resources, which offer baby formula, birthing and parenting classes and baby supplies, Lettieri said. 

“We’re trying to fill in any other gaps someone might need,” Lettieri said. “We have a spreadsheet full of all the resources someone might need, like housing and where the food pantries in town are.” 

The organization mainly wants to support any woman in need, and a major belief of the ministry is that nobody should have to go through a pregnancy alone, Lettieri said. Members volunteer to bring new mothers meals and gifts.

The ministry provides resources based on each individual’s situation. Austhof said the process is simple to access the service, all someone has to do is call them. The number is listed on the church website. 

“Once someone calls, ​​ a mom companion will call them back and just discuss their situation, and plan to meet,” Austhof said.

Audrey Trevarthan is a digital assistant. Contact her at [email protected].