The first cry of a newborn baby never gets old.

Last Friday morning at 8:10 a.m., Raven welcomed her beautiful daughter, Charleigh, into the world. Weighing 6 pounds, 12 ounces and measuring 19 inches long, Charleigh is our very first baby of the new year at Good Counsel Riverside — and what a joyful way to begin.

Both mom and baby are doing very well. But moments like this are about more than a healthy delivery. They represent courage. Trust. A fresh start.

When Raven came to Good Counsel, she needed more than housing. She needed safety. Stability. A community that would walk with her through pregnancy, doctor’s appointments, late-night worries, and early-morning milestones. She needed people who would remind her she was not alone.

That is what supporting Good Counsel truly means.

It means a warm, safe home where a mother can rest without fear.
It means trained staff who notice when a mom is overwhelmed and gently step in.
It means parenting classes, case management, life-skills training, and spiritual support.
It means someone cheering in the delivery room.
It means someone holding the baby so mom can shower.
It means long-term support even after she moves into her own apartment.

When you support Good Counsel, you are not simply funding a program. You are helping build a family.

Every crib, every stocked pantry shelf, every counseling session, every pediatric appointment — they are all made possible because someone chose to care.

There are two powerful ways you can continue to support mothers like Raven and babies like Charleigh:

First, through prayer.
Please keep our mothers in your daily prayers. Pray for strength during pregnancy, for peace during labor, for healing from past wounds, and for confidence as they step into motherhood. Your prayers matter more than you know.

Second, through financial support.
Monthly donations provide the stability that our moms depend on. A recurring gift — whether $25, $50, or $100 a month — helps ensure that when the next mother arrives at our door, we can say “yes.”

A new year has begun. A new life has been welcomed. And because of you, hope continues to grow within our homes.

If you would like to stand with mothers and babies at Good Counsel, consider becoming a monthly supporter today. Together, we are supporting mothers and saving lives — one family at a time. DONATE HERE TODAY

Please keep Raven and Charleigh in your prayers. 💗