"I used everything you gave me..."

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say "I used everything You gave me." – Erma Bombeck

Marsha Winters, co-founder of Project HELP in Terre Haute, uses that quote at the end of each email she sends. It is an accurate depiction of how Marsha lives her life. Take, for example, her 40th birthday. Marsha enthusiastically shares the story of how she embarked on completing 40 Random Acts of Kindness this way, “I originally saw a Blog on Pinterest of this woman, named Robyn Bomar, who did 38 Random Acts of Kindness for her 38th Birthday and I immediately KNEW that was what I wanted to do for the Big 4-0! Robyn is the President of Random Acts of Kindness website that features a lot of people who decided to do the same.” Marsha chose to perform one of those acts of kindness for the children at Ryves Preschool because, in her words, “I LOVE IT!” 

Marsha, along with Indiana State University student Katie Davis, read four books to the children at Ryves, including Walter the Farting Dog and Toot and Puddles. The children had a great time listening and interacting with the storylines.

Besides volunteering as guest reader, Marsha and other volunteers from Project HELP regularly stop by RyvesYouth Center to help fill bags with food which are given to children each Friday afternoon as part of our BackPack program. Volunteers from Project HELP also take time to clean and work on other projects around the youth center.

We are so blessed to have Marsha and all of the volunteers at Project HELP as they invest their time to ensure that Ryves continues to provide our children with a safe after-school haven and a place they consider a second home.

The Gift of Life and Adoption

Living with unanswered questions is one of the greatest difficulties experienced by those involved in an adoption and that is why search and reunion services are part of the life-long services available to our birthmothers and adoptees. Katrina Carlisle, Adoption Search & Reunion Specialist at St. Elizabeth|Coleman, invests her time educating, guiding and counseling the adoptees who want to learn more about their biological family: the birthmothers who long to know if their children are healthy and happy; and the adoptive parents who may want or need updated medical information for their children.


The search and reunion services are available only for those adoptions completed by St. Elizabeth|Coleman Adoption Services, Suemma Coleman, St. Vincent Orphanage, Catholic Charities Bureau, Catholic Charities Kokomo, Catholic Charities Lafayette and Lutheran Family & Child Services. If an adoption was handled by another agency that does not provide search services, the court can be petitioned to appoint a confidential intermediary. Katrina has been appointed many times as confidential intermediary to assist families.

Last year the Search & Reunion Program helped 234 people with their questions and successfully completed 31 searches. Katrina receives many heartfelt thanks. A gentleman recently sent a letter of thanks which included this sentiment: “In light of all the political debates surrounding abortion and contraception issues, it has made me very aware that I may certainly have not have been given the gift of life and adoption from my birthmother had St. Elizabeth Home not been her option 50 years ago. Thank you for all that you do for the expectant mothers and their babies.”

For more information, please visit www.GivingBirthToHope.org.