Carol

Steiner Ranch homemaker Carol Killgore first heard about HTPRC as she sat with other women at Austin Christian Fellowship, assembling “goodie bags” and writing notes of encouragement for HTPRC moms during one of ACF’s Serve Our City projects.

“I did not really know much about HTPRC,” she recalled. A presentation by Debi changed that. “I loved hearing their story on the vision and passion God gave them just a few years ago. It tugged at my heart, because their mission is to help the moms emotionally and physically as well as encouraging them to choose LIFE!”

The Killgores have a connection with that kind of decision. Twelve years ago, they adopted their daughter at her birth. She is now 12 years old. Presumably, her birth mother could have chosen abortion. “I cannot imagine if my daughter was never born due to an uninformed decision so many years ago,” said Carol.

The “goodie bag” project led to something larger at Steiner Ranch. “I started to see via our Moms/Tots FB Page … posts like ‘anyone needs a crib,’ ‘looking to donate a high chair,’ etc.  and thought wow, I could collect these items and deliver to HTPRC.”

Carol started to respond to the posts. Next, she discovered a group of moms in the neighborhood who meet weekly to serve. When she gets an alert from Debi that HTPRC is running short of something (diapers, formula, etc.), she puts out the word, and those moms meet the needs. “Literally once the word got out about HTPRC, the donations started flowing in.”

And flow in they do – to Carol’s garage. “It becomes a temporary loading dock for all thingsHTPRC,” she said, smiling. Recently, she received a donation of living room furniture that was delivered to aHTPRC mom who had just moved into her first apartment.

All the activity has paid extra dividends. “I’ve made lifelong friendships with women whom otherwise I would not have known,” said Carol. “I love how God sees a need, He asks for our ‘Yes!’ and then the blessings will flow in ways we cannot imagine. We are the church!”

Staff members from Catalyst Teen Center pose with furniture they helped deliver to aHTPRC mom as part of a partnership with Covenant Presbyterian’s Movin’ and Groovin’ ministry to the homeless.

“One beautiful outflow is the art of paying it forward – right before my eyes,” she added. Steiner moms are now taking it upon themselves to arrange pickups through the neighborhood in their own network.  Other Steiner spaces are becoming mini-hubs. Meanwhile, atHTPRC – 20 miles and 32 driving minutes away unless it’s the rush hour – the supplies mean everything to East Austin moms who otherwise would not have the resources to be prepared to care for their newest family members.

“Heart of Texas Pregnancy Resource Center is the light that shines in the darkness for all to see, Carol wrote, “and we only give all glory to our Father in Heaven — Matthew 5:16.”