Whenever we proceed from the known into the unknown, we may hope to understand, but we may have to learn at the same time a new meaning of the word understanding. ~Werner Karl Heisenberg

Throughout our five years of serving our community, we understand the importance of being in a community with each other. We have come to rely on the support and the power of our volunteers. We have from the very beginning, been dependent on the financial generosity of our friends, businesses, churches, groups, and individual donors. We recognize and are deeply appreciative of the generosity of our volunteers and our donors. Your contributions have blessed us to serve women and families in crisis who call and randomly show up at our door.

We have been told time and time again that our arrival on the scene as a home in the Town of Haymarket was a surprise to many. A pleasant surprise. From the moment the announcement was made, we began meeting new friends and have continued to do so. To show our appreciation as we celebrate our fifth anniversary, we will highlight our friends, volunteers, and donors who have been our lifeline for the past five years. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve and to sow seeds of love and hope into the lives of women and their families. This week we’d like to shine the light on Elizabeth Stafford, one of our first friends, advocate, volunteer, and donor. In the early days following our announcement, we would arrive at the house with furniture, diapers, and bags, and bags of donation.

our of our needs, she quietly showed up with her little ones, they’d go to the tiny room way in the back of the house, and she’d sort through labeling and organizing the donations. Elizabeth at the very beginning recognized the mission was great, and she continued to contribute her time. A pattern we have observed is that anyone who comes to serve and remains for a while eventually takes on other roles. As a new organization, we needed a lot of help. It wasn’t long after we began that Elizabeth and her family became financial partners. 

Our volunteer Diana had the pleasure of interviewing the Stafford’s to share their Carried To Full Term story. Elizabeth shared that she became interested in Carried To Full Term after learning that it was in her community and after meeting the Director, Frances Robin. She remembered back in 2014 when her daughter attended St. Michael’s Academy, which is located directly across the street from Carried To Full Term.  At that time, Frances was in the process of starting the organization, and Elizabeth was eager to help right away. Elizabeth recalls setting up rooms and sorting through donated items.  Shortly thereafter, the Stafford’s felt the urge to step up their support and became monthly donors. They have served and support Carried To Full Term continuously since its beginning.  The Stafford’s are dedicated to helping others. Elizabeth supports and serves with various organizations that are focused on helping children and families throughout our region . 
 
Doug has an extensive network of connections. The people he knows often choose to support large, well-known organizations.  But Doug has a heart for Carried To Full Term because he sees the impact that the organization is making on the local community.  So not only does he feel led to support Carried To Full Term, he and Elizabeth are comfortable with asking others to support as well.  Because of their dedication, they will ask others to support them anytime they can do so.
 
The Stafford’s have a very strong passion for the sanctity of life, and they see this as a lifelong commitment.  Elizabeth is motivated by the work done at Carried To Full Term and sees her involvement with Carried To Full Term as a blessing.  The Stafford’s are very appreciative of how the love of Christ is shown through the work done at Carried To Full Term.  They truly believe that we are to love and serve “the least of… one of the least of these my brothers and sisters” and they live this out by their faithful support of Carried To Full Term.  We are blessed to have people such as the Stafford’s alongside us on our journey to change lives.