A Love Story - Oregon City, Oregon
Sarah had been living with her dad in a two-bedroom apartment when, during her senior year of high school, she discovered she was pregnant. Because of the small quarters, Sarah began looking for a place of her own to raise her baby. But with a move into subsidized housing came the challenge of furnishing an apartment with necessities-especially those needed by a newborn.
"I was 17 when I found out I was pregnant," Sarah explained. "It was rough. I spent my whole senior year of high school being pregnant. I just cried." Because Sarah was put on bed rest two months before the baby was born, she had a private tutor and spent the last several months of high school at home.
When Jeffrey was born, Sarah didn't have many toys or clothes for him or even a decent place for him to sleep. "I had a fold-out crib, but he wasn't sleeping real well on it." Sarah was referred to Love INC of Clackamas County in Oregon City, Oregon, by her case manager who was helping her become self-sufficient. She asked Love INC if they could help her find a crib for Jeffrey.
Love INC contacted Cathy Warner, a member of a local church and a mother of two small children who had recently called Love INC to donate a crib. Cathy's two-year old daughter Rachel had outgrown her crib and was ready to move to a bigger bed. Cathy not only wanted to bless another mom with Rachel's crib, she also expressed a desire to become involved in the young mother's life.
"Love INC called and said they had a recipient for the crib I wanted to donate, and that I could deliver the crib personally," said Cathy. "When I first met Sarah and Jeffrey, it really tore at my heart strings. I'm almost twice her age and we both have very young kids."
While delivering the crib with her son Benjamin and daughter Rachel in tow, Cathy immediately noticed other things Sarah needed. She called Love INC to talk about what else they could do to help Sarah and her young family.
Through Love INC, various churches and agencies contributed items that Sarah and her family needed. "I received furniture, clothing, cleaning supplies, and toys for Jeffrey," Sarah said. "And they bought us so many more things that we would need later on. It was awesome."
And Cathy went a step further, getting others from her church involved. "The Sunday school kids sponsored Sarah and Jeffrey and gathered offerings for them. A local agency matched our donations. The kids then joined in a shopping trip where we tried to find all the things Sarah needed, like clothes for Jeffrey, dishes, and a new car seat," Cathy said. The students presented Sarah with the gifts when she and Jeffrey attended a puppet drama at Cathy's church. One church member lovingly made a child's stool for Jeffrey with an engraved plate of the church's mission statement: "Sharing God's love through word and action."