KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS SUPPORTS RAPHAEL’S LIFE HOUSE

The Cranford Knights of Columbus were pleased to recently present Raphael’s Life House with a $2,000 donation from funds that were raised from their St. Patrick’s Day Dance and March Madness pool.
Raphael’s Life House, founded by Cranford resident Edith Coogan and former resident, Mary Orrico, is a Covenant House for New Jersey’s Mother Child program, created to provide services to homeless and pregnant young women; enabling them to create and implement a plan for their future. At a refurbished convent in Elizabeth, every mom has her own room and can stay for up to 18 months after her child is born.
Staff and talented volunteers provide classes to assist moms with prenatal care, parenting skills, building self-esteem, job seeking, educational, and vocational opportunities and other critical life skills. Founded in 1993, Raphael’s has provided transitional housing for hundreds of young mothers and their babies.
Recent fund raisers for Raphael’s also include a Mom’s sleep out on the streets of NYC and several “baby bottle boomerangs”, coordinated in various local churches by Maxine Brown, wife of Pastor Alfred E.Brown, of First Baptist Church, Cranford.
On June 15, the Covenant House of New Jersey will host its annual fundraiser to benefit all of their outreach programs, including Raphael’s, with a Night of Broadway Stars at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. A spectacular show from Broadway’s biggest stars, cocktail reception, raffles, and dessert reception are included in ticket price. Information can be found at nightofbroadwaystarsnj.org.
There are countless ways you can volunteer for Raphael’s life House: On site volunteers provide classes to assist moms in a variety of life and vocational skills; participate as baby-sitters in the childcare room; host monthly community dinners, and much more.
Want to schedule a tour or volunteer? Can you coordinate a baby bottle boomerang at your church or temple? Please contact Rose at 732-575-0244 or email rstallmeyer@covenanthouse.org for all of the info and details!