St. Martha’s Baby Project continues its pro-life work

Friday, Oct. 13, 2023

SALT LAKE CITY — Working to make true the saying “every baby comes into the world loved,” St. Martha’s Baby Project in Salt Lake City has been providing new mothers with layettes that include essentials such as onesies and burp cloths since 1987. This group is distinct from the St. Martha’s Baby Project in Ogden, which is affiliated with Catholic Community Services of Utah.

“Our purpose is to make it possible for women of limited means to keep and care for their newborn,” reads the mission statement of Salt Lake City’s St. Martha’s Baby Project.

This ecumenical volunteer group, a ministry of the Office of Marriage and Family Life of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City, “offers a positive response to abortion,” said Judith Puhr, volunteer leader of the project.

St. Martha’s Baby Project’s workroom is located in the offices of Holy Cross Ministries of Utah. The layettes are distributed through the HCM’s social services as well as dozens of other organizations, including the Wasatch Latina Coalition, Comunidades Unidas, Pacific Islander Health Coalition, Pro Life Utah and Women of the World.

The group’s more than 20 volunteers make approximately 275 layettes each year with support from various other individuals and groups.

“Saint Martha’s Baby Project prepares every day of the year for the birth of a child who could be in desperate need. They feel it is important that new babies and their parents do not feel alone at a very vulnerable time in their lives,” states the St. Martha’s Baby Project website.

Being involved in the project “is such a joy,” Puhr said. “It’s respecting the sacredness of life.” 

Puhr also has a personal connection to the project. Her daughter got pregnant at the age of 17, “and I thought to myself, ‘What would she have done if we were not there for her?’ … Every once in a while we hear the stories of the women that get these layettes, and it makes you feel that this is really worth it,” she said. “I know that we are not doing a big job, but for sure it’s worth it.”

Lillian O’Neil, who has volunteered with the project for more than 30 years, agreed. “It’s just joy; I couldn’t be doing something better than this,” she said. 

Like Puhr, O’Neil has personal stories to tell about the ministry.

“Many years ago I had three baskets with baby things, and a lady walked up to me and asked me what I was doing, and I explained to her it was for charity in the St. Martha’s Baby Project. She threw her arms around me and told me she once received help from the project, and cried,” O’Neil said.

Helping new mothers regardless of their circumstances, culture, faith or beliefs is important because “God sees us all as the same; God just says ‘just do it,’” Puhr said.

Wondrous things happen with the project, O’Neil said.

 “Every time that we feel that we cannot do it anymore because the demand is getting higher or we don’t have more resources, I pray, and we find another way,” such as a parish or school suddenly holding baby showers to benefit the project, she said. 

“We have given away more than 9,000 layettes over the years,” Puhr said. “All the volunteers are so dedicated; it’s just amazing.”

Ongoing support is necessary to keep the project running. In addition to donations that come from baby showers hosted by parishes, schools and other organizations, “Financial contributions through the diocesan website are the best way to help the project,” said Crystal Painter, director of the diocesan Office of Marriage & Family. “That way they can get whatever products they need.”

The idea of the layettes is amazing, said Emmie Gardner, CEO of Holy Cross Ministries, particularly because many assistance programs available to new mothers don’t pay for diapers or other items such as breast pads. “Some mothers have no support, no help, and this is a godsend to them,” she said.

The emotional impact of receiving a layette also is important, said Carlos Flores, manager of HCM’s health outreach program, because the recipients feel that somebody cares about them.  

“It really is a relief for them that this project exists and supports them,” he said.