HELPING WOMEN CHOOSE LIFE
CHOICE42 Director, Laura Klassen getting some snuggles from baby Mia at WINGS Maternity Home.
This weekend we had the great pleasure of visiting WINGS Maternity Home. The home is located in Ajax, ON and is a safe haven for pregnant women who have no where else to turn.
WINGS can house up to four women and their babies at one time, and the home has had 61 women live there since opening in 2009. WINGS was founded by 'Executive Mother' Marion Cozens. After raising four daughters on her own as a single mother, Marion saw a need in the community to support women facing unplanned pregnancy. She promotes life-affirming options...and she doesn't just advocate for women to choose life: she helps them to do it.
The home provides an intimate, homey environment for women to carry out their pregnancies, and to bring their babies home to after birth (which Marion always coaches them through). There are 32 WINGS volunteers who dedicate their time to helping run the home, and there's a lot to do! The women staying at the home definitely don't just 'sit around' or 'chill' all day: they have a jam-packed schedule including school, chores, parenting classes, cooking classes, and much more.
We showed up to find the entire WINGS crew sporting our CHOICE42 T-shirts!
CHOICE42 Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator, Rebecca Charlton in heaven holding baby Nathaniel.
Not only does WINGS provide shelter for four women, they also support many other single moms in the community who come by regularly to pick up free baby food and supplies, or to attend the WINGS NEST school. This school is run by certified teachers who help women to gain their high school diploma. As of right now, there are 9 women who have gone on to post-secondary education after completing their high school education at WINGS.
Marion Cozens has big dreams for WINGS including moving to a larger building, providing transitional housing, and expanding the school. The home is not government funded and relies on the donations of individuals, churches and other organizations in order to keep it's doors open.
During our visit, we were able to hear an update by former WINGS resident Felicia who we filmed for our first Choose Life video. Felicia received her high school diploma through WINGS and is now in her second year of post-secondary education working toward her bachelor degree in theology. Felicia also volunteers at the home to encourage other young moms, and she gives back to the home financially as a monthly donor. (WOW!) Felicia's precious daughter Azalia was also there: a vivacious 2-year-old 'force to be reckoned with' as Felicia describes her.
All in all, we left WINGS with a great sense of HOPE. Marion and her team are walking the walk by really helping women and babies in a practical way, and it's obvious that every pregnant woman who walks through the front door will be met first with love.
WAYS TO SUPPORT WINGS:
DONATE financially or by providing specific items WINGS has on their list of 'needs'.
WINGS has their big fundraising gala, 'PUTTING ON THE GLITZ' coming up this May 4th in Ajax, ON. We attended last year's gala and it was a night to remember!
VOLUNTEER at this amazing maternity home!