Volunteers Vicki Gage and Kathie Cracium-Wright fold clothes at the St. Gianna Molla Pregnancy Outreach Center in Fredonia.

Great gifts do not come only at Christmastime. Many are delivered daily, especially at the Brooks Memorial Hospital maternity unit in Dunkirk in the form of newborn babies. Often, those bundles of joy arrive to thrilled parents and family members.

But sometimes, life gets in the way for those not expecting or planning to become pregnant. That can bring worries and a bit of fear in how to move forward for the future mother and father.

Since the fall of 2014, the St. Gianna Molla Pregnancy Outreach Center at 32 Moore St. in Fredonia has been assisting families and expectant parents in preparation for childbirth. It was an idea born from the Pro-Life movement that dates back to 1990s.

Operating under the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, the Fredonia location receives assistance from the center in Buffalo that is led by Cheryl Calire, director.

The organization’s name comes from St. Gianna Beretta Molla, the Pro-Life saint, who developed a life-threatening condition while pregnant that required surgery in 1961. She pleaded with the surgeons, instead, to save her baby. “If you must decide between me and the child, do not hesitate: choose the child. I insist on it.”

Pat Lezark takes a look at the inventory of baby formula and lotions at the St. Gianna Molla Center in Fredonia.

A miracle

On April 21, 1962, Gianna Emanuela was born. Only seven days later, the mother died.

More than 50 years from then, a mission began — with a focus on not only raising awareness but taking action.

“We were all saying this stuff, but we were not doing anything about it,” said Pat Morrelle, Chautauqua location coordinator at St. Gianna in Fredonia. “Wouldn’t it be nice some year, sometime to be able to open up something to back them up and support them?”

Starting in Dunkirk at the Blessed Mary Angela parish, the center has grown in four years as part of an all-volunteer effort. Morrelle has been the greatest champion for the center with Marlene Lezark, a retired Buffalo General Hospital nurse, heading up the agency’s educational effort.

Both estimated more than 100 mothers have walked through their doors, many by way of referrals whether it be through the churches or Social Services.

“Once they come in that door, they can find that we are a friend,” said Lezark, a South Dayton resident. “We don’t judge them. We don’t ask them to be any specific religion. … They can come here as they are.”

Unfortunately, some who enter the center are dealing with difficult problems, including drug addictions and the lack of a support system. One woman, who recently became pregnant, was told by her parents to have an abortion or don’t come home. She ultimately, through the center’s support system, made the tough choice.

“She decided to keep it,” Morrelle said.

‘A family here’

While educating on childbirth is the focus at the beginning, assistance continues once the baby arrives until the child is at age 5. Through donations, the center offers diapers, clothes, shoes, formulas and bottles to parents for their baby.

“We are a gift that keeps giving,” Lezark said. “They can come back every three months.”

On Tuesday of this week, two volunteers were busy folding infant clothes by size and getting other items ready for the laundry. To match the season, there were Christmas-themed outfits hanging on a rack inside the room for parents to take if they wanted. The volunteers noted, however, there is a need for infant onesies.

One big-ticket item, such as strollers, pack-and-plays and car seats also are given to moms and dads, some of whom come from as far away from Jamestown and southern Erie County. “We are a family here,” Lezark said.

Currently, the St. Gianna Center in Fredonia is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays and 10 a.m. to noon Saturday. “There’s the potential for growth,” Morrelle said, noting with more volunteers the center could have Thursday hours.

To donate, volunteer, receive support or make an appointment, call the center at 401-3324.

“Life is beautiful,” Morrelle said. “Embrace life in a positive way. There’s so many negatives with these young people now.”

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Happy holidays.

John D’Agostino is the OBSERVER publisher. Send comments to jdagostino@observertoday.com or call 366-3000, ext. 401.