As Mother's Day approaches, the St. Gianna Molla Pregnancy Outreach Center in Buffalo is highlighting the importance of supporting families during one of life's biggest transitions.

Since 2011, the center has been serving expecting mothers and young families, offering both essential items and emotional support as they prepare to welcome a child.

"We help with clothing, diapers, a safe place to sleep if they need that, a car seat," said Director Sarah Lindstrom.

The center is part of a broader network through Our Lady of Victory Charities, now serving eight communities across Western New York, from Niagara Falls to Olean.

"It really is in line with our mission," said Rev. Msgr. David LiPuma of OLV National Shrine & Basilica. "When you think about it, Father Baker opened the infant home to take care of women who were with child and needed a place to go and a safe place to be taken care of. So this extension of that is women can come here any time and receive assistance, diapers, all kinds of things."

Families are typically referred through partner agencies, and organizers say their doors are open to people of all faiths.

"We're completely donation based," Lindstrom said. "Sometimes we have extra items that we can help with that they'll see when they come in for their appointments, oh, I didn't think I needed that."

In addition to diapers, bottles, and clothing up to size 4T, the center also provides critical safety items like cribs and car seats. But staff say the impact goes far beyond the physical items.

"They'll often say, 'I had no idea that people cared. I didn't know that this support was out there for me,'" Lindstrom said.

The outreach supports entire families, including fathers, offering a welcoming environment and compassionate care.

"Parents need lots of support. Lots of prayers, lots of love," LiPuma said. "To know that they have a safe place to come where they'll be supported with compassionate care, where they will know that if there's a need that they have, we will respond to that need, it really does help," LiPuma said.

Organizers say as Mother's Day approaches, it's important to remember that while motherhood is a gift, it can also come with challenges, making community support all the more important.

"It's so beautiful and such a treasure, but it can also be hard, and that's okay too," Lindstrom said. "It's important to ask for that support if you need it."

The center relies heavily on donations from local parishes and the community, including diaper drives and gently used baby items, creating what staff describe as a full-circle cycle of giving back.

More information on referrals and how to help can be found on the center's website.