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Youth at St. barbara parish in okawville support pregnancy care center

Story and photos by LIZ QUIRIN
Messenger editor

Members of the parish youth group at St. Barbara’s in Okawville wanted to support the Pregnancy Care Center in Belleville.

Always in need of financial support, Celeste Cocheba, director, was overjoyed when the group presented her with a check for more than $1,100 for the center.

Youth in the parish distributed baby bottles on Mother’s Day, youth ministry leader, Ruth Beach, said.

Parishioners were asked to fill the bottles with change and return them to church on Father’s Day weekend.

Beach said youth left the bottles out on kitchen or dining room tables, and when guests came for dinner, they asked about the bottles. When they were told about the project, the guests contributed as well.

With support from their pastor, Father Ken York, the project was a success, and the youth intend to make this an annual event.

They would like to challenge all youth in the diocese to do the same and donate the money to the Pregnancy Care Center, which operates on donations and support from St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Belleville. The youth said this was a rewarding project that any youth in the diocese can do.

For information, please call 233-2273.