The 2nd Half Blanket Handicap and the PIK Blanketathon
Happy Saturday Crafties!
This evening, I'll be participating in a charity stream for Let Them Live! As I continue to navigate my career(s) I also look for ways to exercise my faith and better reflect the Savior. The mission of this organization is very dear to me and my friends have very graciously invited me to participate this year. The full details for the Make-a-long can be found on Anne Pinkava's Blog.
The Half Blanket Handicap is TONIGHT on YouTube at 5 pm EST! It is hosted by the wonderful @The_Epic_Mike and the lovely @Rippalorian, and is in support of @letthemliveorg, a pro-life charity that helps mothers with financial hardship choose life.
Our contestants will be crocheting a corner-to-corner granny blanket (starting the stream on row 10, turning at row 50), and our teams are:
@mollyomali and @anne_pinkava
@yoyowithatwist and @ChickenLadyFA
If this is your beat, be sure to give some of these lovely ladies a follow!
The first team to complete a whole blanket between the two of them (or the most rows by the end of the stream) wins! Also, all the super chats will be donated to Let Them Live, with the largest super chatter getting a prize from HallowedAngel , so please do join us live if you can!
More About Let Them Live
Let Them Live seeks to help abortion-minded women choose life by supporting women in crisis pregnancies and providing practical resources. Their vision is a culture where women never feel like getting an abortion is their only choice because of their temporary situation.
How could she abort?
Some women face immense pressure from family, partners, or societal expectations to not go through with the pregnancy. They may feel isolated and lack support, making abortion seem like the more straightforward or socially acceptable option. In a crisis situation, abortion may seem like a quicker solution compared to continuing the pregnancy until birth and navigating the complexities of adoption. The inability to financially provide for a new baby is another factor that pushes moms into believing that abortion is their only option.
What if mom aborts after a fundraiser is filled?
Let Them Live takes donation stewardship and integrity very seriously. Moms are never given direct cash support. All expenses are paid directly by Let Them Live. Additionally, each mom signs an agreement stating that she will not seek an abortion after accepting our assistance.
Is she really pregnant?
We have an extensive verification process that includes regular ultrasounds from an affiliated crisis pregnancy center, a photocopy of her driver’s license, as well as over the phone and in-person meetings.
How much money does she want?
She is not asking for the donations. We offered to alleviate her financial burdens. The amount is set by our financial advocacy team who create financial plans for every mom we work with. Each fundraiser has a list of what the funds will be used for as identified by our team.
How is $ sent to moms?
Our moms are not sent cash directly; our financial advocates on our counseling team create financial plans for all of the moms we work with and pay their bills directly.
What if the goal isn’t met or the fundraiser is not filled?
If the financial goal is not raised for a particular fundraiser, the mom will still receive the aid promised in her financial plan. We will never deny a mom the financial aid she needs to keep her baby. All fundraisers created for our moms are based on the estimated cost of their expenses throughout their pregnancy. These costs often fluctuate and change as the mom’s situation progresses, resulting in the total amount being more or less money than originally anticipated. To offset these costs, we help the mom tap into external funding/aid (government agencies, social programs, etc.). We also utilize the donations from our monthly giving club to cover any outstanding expenses for the mom.
If a mom still wants to continue with an abortion, we will refer her to post-abortive counseling. The money raised from her fundraiser will go to the next mom in need. We take donation integrity and stewardship very seriously. No donations will ever be used to pay for an abortion.
WIC/government aid Sadly, many of our moms are on government aid and still feel like abortion is their only option. If they aren’t on any programs, we will definitely help them apply! However, most people aren’t immediately approved nor guaranteed assistance. Our help, on the other hand, is immediate. In addition to the financial support, we also provide emotional and material help.
PRC/Other Orgs We partner with Pregnancy Resource Centers (PRCs) and other charities that provide resources, and we will connect moms to local help in their area. Unfortunately, the vast majority of PRCs are not able to provide the financial support these moms need, but they are able to provide in-person and material support. Our help is immediate, and includes paying for rent, utilities, car payments, gas, food, a baby registry, financial literacy classes, counseling and assistance in finding full-time employment.
Still legal to abort?
On June 24th, 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, ending federal protection for abortion access. Now, each state can decide whether to ban or allow access to abortion.
Why doesn’t the mom just adopt?
Adoption is a great option and something we always suggest to the moms we support, and if they choose adoption, we will help them with that process and connect them to an organization that facilitates adoptions. Even if a mom chooses adoption, we would still have to help her throughout her pregnancy journey while she finds the perfect couple for her child. At this moment, she needs our help to choose life by providing the tangible support she needs.
"Forcing women to choose life..."
All of the women we support have reached out themselves and asked for our help. Moms find us on their own or are sometimes referred to us by PRCs and/or sidewalk advocates. Even when a mom is referred to us, she must be the one to speak with us directly to receive our help and support. These brave moms accept our support out of their own free will.
The moms we help want to choose life but feel that they have to abort because of their circumstances. It is our hope that with our love and support, they will feel confident about choosing life.
"Forcing Religious Beliefs"
Let Them Live is registered with the IRS as a Christian non-profit. However, we do not require our staff or volunteers to sign a statement of faith, and we do not impose our religious beliefs on the moms we serve. We do not discriminate against people of a different faith or those who are agnostic or atheist. We welcome open and respectful dialogue from people of all different backgrounds, beliefs, and cultures.
"Not Doing Enough" (For Abolitionists/Etc)
The pro-life movement has many branches. For some, it’s activism. For others, it’s policies and the legal system. For us, it’s providing an alternative to abortion; focused on the “demand” side, one life at a time.
Pressuring her with money/etc (mom)” “you’re pressuring donors”
She is not asking for the donations. We offered to alleviate her financial burdens. The amount is set by our pregnancy counselors who create financial plans for every mom we work with. Each fundraiser has a list of what the funds will be used for as identified by our counseling team. If a mom still wants to continue with an abortion, we will refer her to post-abortive counseling. The money raised from her fundraiser will go to the next mom in need. We take donation integrity and stewardship very seriously. No donations will ever be used to pay for an abortion.
If you know someone who is considering abortion: Please have the mom reach out to them directly so they can have their counselors assess her situation and give her the best information and resources. They are incredible at helping Moms in difficult situations choose life! Let Them Live does have a strict privacy policy, so the mom herself must be the one speaking directly with them. She can reach them by texting/calling their hotline 203-450-4357 or by submitting a contact form at https://letthemlive.org
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