Diocese of Gary

SCHERERVILLE – More than 70% of pregnant women who walk through the doors of a Women’s Care Center are considering abortion, but nine out of 10 subsequently choose life for their babies.
    
That’s the life-affirming message Annie Barnett, outreach director for Women’s Care Centers of Northwest Indiana, shared with more than 100 supporters, staffers and volunteers at the Fourth Annual Luxury Bingo fundraiser held on Oct. 14 at the Halls of St. George.
    
“We served more than 800 mothers in 2025, and with our new, more visible Merrillville location at 2624 U.S. 30, we hope to serve up to 50% more women,” Barnett said. “One in every five babies born in Lake County is served at a Women’s Care Center; most women take their first ultrasound at one of our centers and receive care. We try to follow St. Benedict’s way, respecting everyone with no judgement and meeting the women we serve where they are.”
    
Women’s Care Centers not only offer women pregnancy tests and ultrasound imaging, but care and counseling through their pregnancy and support up to their child’s kindergarten year. “We have a nurse practitioner who can sign them up for Medicaid to get health care, and we have our Crib Club stocked with everything from diapers to baby clothes to strollers and baby cribs,” added Barnett. 
    
Women who complete WCC classes in everything from Baby Basics to Nutrition to Raising Kids with Character earn coupons they can redeem for Crib Club merchandise.
    
“Women’s Care Centers continue to thrive in meeting the needs of women and the babies of those moms up to age five years, changing lives and (serving) as examples of living the Gospel,” said Diocese of Gary Bishop Robert J. McClory, an enthusiastic supporter of the pregnancy support centers. “Few offer support as compassionately and effectively as Women’s Care Centers … I’m always pleased to support that great ministry.”
    
The evening began with a social hour featuring gourmet appetizers, desserts and beverages, followed by an official welcome by Barnett, who thanked attendees for their support.
    
Attendees played six games of bingo, each featuring three “luxury” prizes to choose from and each boasting a theme, from “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” offering a touchscreen digital calendar, high-end hair dryer and tote bag stuffed with gift certificates, to “Bushel of Apples” giving away an Apple iPad, Apple Watch, Apple AirPods and AirTags.
    
A video presentation explaining how mothers found support to keep their children through the centers included client testimonials. One woman said, “The Women’s Care Center gave us everything we were looking for before we even knew what we needed,” while another spoke directly to pregnant women who feel desperate, “Don’t give up, there is help if you know where to look.”
    
“Your generosity saves lives,” Barnett stressed before conducting a “Mom and Baby Appeal” which had dozens of attendees raising their paddles to pledge amounts from $2,500 – which supports five women and their babies from ultrasound imaging through children’s books – to $250 – which funds diapers for babies. More than $16,000 was pledged.
    
Jeri Maxwell, a Valparaiso resident and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parishioner, enjoyed her first Luxury Bingo at a table sponsored by Beth and Chad Casbon, whom she knows as a parish coordinator for the St. Vincent de Paul Society’s Feed the Homeless initiative that supplies home-cooked meals for 40 men, women and children each day. “This is another example of how we can serve our neighbors, as the Women’s Care Centers do,” said Maxwell.
    
Father Michael Kopil, pastor at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, praised the Ultrasound Machine Initiative spearheaded by the Indiana Knights of Columbus, which raises funds to supply WCCs with the technology that lets women see images of their children in the womb. “One of the beautiful things about the WCCs is that they are not just focused on helping stop abortion, but are truly walking with women and sustaining them and their babies,” he said.
    
Monica Sajn, of Munster and a parishioner at St. Thomas More, said she has attended the Luxury Bingo every year “as a means of helping women in need,” and enjoys “the sense of community” created by the supporters. “It’s a great time, playing bingo and enjoying each other,” said the former gift certificate winner.
    
Tess Matthys, who joined the WCC staff in Merrillville in 2017 and currently serves as a human resources associate, said she appreciates “the dedication of our staff, who embody our mission and provide a pastoral presence.”
    
Her favorite memory is about befriending “a woman who came to the Women’s Care Center and chose life. Bella is now eight years old, and she is my goddaughter. To have her in my life is the best.”

Caption: Enjoying the Fourth Annual Luxury Bingo fundraiser benefitting the Women's Care Center in Merrillville at a table sponsored by St. Thomas More in Munster are (from left) Tony Kaim of All Souls in Lansing, Ill., Dan Dernulc (standing) of Our Lady of Grace in Highland, Julie Dernulc of Schererville and Our Lady of Grace, Monica Sajn of St. Thomas More, and Ginny Miceli of Munster, who worships at the Carmelite Shrine in Munster. (Marlene A. Zloza photo)