President's Column

Good Counsel staff and volunteers do everything we can to help each mother and child living in our homes.

While striving to be a family for abandoned single mothers before, during and after the birth of their babies, we're also extremely careful to be good stewards of your gifts. In fact, last year 88% of each donated dollar was spent on program expenses. That's extremely high for an organization like ours which has to raise funds mainly from individual benefactors. The expenses that remained are broken down as only 6% for fundraising and 6% for administration and overhead.

We stretched those dollars, too, saving more than $120,000 on rent because most of our homes are rent-free. Additionally, each month, we receive thousands of dollars worth of food, clothing, paper products, cleaning supplies and office supplies, thanks to you.

Our extended family of hundreds of volunteers selflessly give us everything from their fundraising expertise to babysitting, services which also stretch those dollars and enhance the programs we offer each mother and child.

Receiving help from some foundations, and many churches and organizations, all of which believe that "God is Father of the orphan and defender of the widow" (Psalm 68), Good Counsel and its family of partners work together to fulfill Jesus' command to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and shelter the homeless (Matthew 25: 31).

Good Counsel has provided more than 460,000 nights of shelter to 5,000 women and children since the first home opened in 1985. Today there are five Good Counsel homes. Thousands of other people have been helped in person through our outreach and follow-up programs, online, or over the telephone.

More than 700 babies have been born to Good Counsel mothers since 1985. During 2007, 300 mothers and children received more than 28,000 nights of shelter, and 81 babies were born to mothers in our direct care. Additionally, the Good Counsel 24/7 helpline (1-800-723-8331), received 3,000 calls last year. More than 22,000 people have been helped through this 24/7 helpline since it began 10 years ago.

We continue to stay in touch with 101 moms through our Exodus Program, where former residents receive guidance and on-going counseling to ease the difficulties of transition to independent living.

Please consider all these services we have to offer. You may even wish to look further here at our website. Tell me what you think by calling 201.795.0637 or by email at cbell@goodcounselhomes.org. Good Counsel can only improve with your help, advice and concern. May the Lord bless you abundantly.

Peace,
Christopher Bell +