Photo : Freepik

Money was a recurring theme this past week with two women that the Quebec Life Coalition’s pregnancy support program is currently assisting.

On Saturday, Danielle reached out, asking if we could meet, and she gratefully accepted my offer to grab a few groceries. After a quick run to Maxi, I stopped by her place, where the conversation soon turned to finances. Danielle had borrowed some money from a friend to cover her rent and other essentials, but now her friend was asking for repayment. She wondered if QLC might be able to help with a thousand dollars to ease her burden.

Meanwhile, Mary, who gave birth in April, called me after a recent meeting with her immigration lawyer. Since she lives outside of Montreal, I thought it would be a good chance to catch up with her. We met downtown, her four-month-old in tow, and found a spot at a nearby McDonald's. As we navigated the messiness of our Big M's, the topic of her unpaid birthing fees came up. Mary, being in Canada on a visitor visa with no health insurance, was wondering if QLC could lend a hand.

But where are the fathers?

By Brian Jenkins (Quebec Life Coalition) — Photo : StockPhotoPro/Adobe Stock

Many of you may not be aware that the Quebec Life Coalition operates a “pregnancy support service.”

The quotation marks are added to draw attention that we do more than helping young ladies who are experiencing hardship during their pregnancies. Yes, we do the latter but over the years this service has embraced to include mothers of newborns as well to support post-abortive women live with their irreversible decisions. Here are a few examples.

We met Danielle this past May 2024. She called us after having seen our internet notice asking whether we could purchase a bed for her. She had been sleeping on the floor in her apartment and as her pregnancy progressed, it was becoming ever more uncomfortable. So, on a Saturday afternoon, we met and walked over to a retailer not too far from her apartment. There, not only was a queen-size mattress purchase but also the box to go with it and the necessary bedding.