Fontebella News

Join Us

Saturday, February 2, 2013

six o’clock in the evening

Four Points by Sheraton in Fairview Heights

Silent & Oral Auction

Cash bar

Formal dinner served

RSVP By January 18, 2013

For additional information view
Fontebella 4th Annual Auction Page

Contact Joanne Smallheer 618-977-3768

information and reservations

Austin Lee a 17 year old Life Scout with Troop 78 in Shiloh knocked on our door, introduced himself and said he would like to support Fontebella and our mission by completing a service project for us as he worked towards the completion of Eagle Scout.

Austin   learned of Fontebella through his church, First Baptist Church in O’Fallon.   As a   17  year old young man, Austin understood the importance of life,  he also realized  how courageous it is for a young woman to choose the life of their unborn child. Our ladies find themselves alone, without food, or safe choices because they have chosen to save this life they carry within them.  After visiting our home Austin realized the need for a retaining wall in the front of our home and after receiving approval of his Troop on the design, he set out on his fund raising, negotiated the purchase of supplies,then he and his team of workers went to work.

Today our home has a beautiful and functioning retaining wall for our visitors to view  as they  drive  up   our gravel entry to the home.

What a wonderful addition to the legacy Fontebella has begun and Austin’s love for life will go on forever.  When you visit our home view the beauty of our wall and know that supporters of all ages are working together to insure that no young woman shall ever feel as if they are alone.

Austin Lee, stands in front of his finished project

This was was the easy part, then the challenge began.

Friends and family lend a hand under Austins direction to complete the wall.

When the ladies of the Swansea Cambridge House heard about our ministry at Fontebella, they just didn’t sit back and read the article, they took action! 

The ladies got together and started to spread the word about our ministry – they collected items for our young ladies and their babies. Mamy of the ladies grabbed their crochet hooks and knitting needles and turned around beautiful blankets, sweather sets, booties and hats. Others sat at sewing machines and brought their talents to us in wonderful fleece wraps for cuddle time.

Our new friends were given a tour of our home and shared a visit with Lead House Manager, Debra Adzema and Fundraising/Volunteer Coordinator, Joanne Smallheer.  By the end of our visit, the ladies were wanting to move in!

Thank you ladies for showing our guests that no matter what path their life has previously taken, there is a brighter and better tomorrow for them and their babies.

Victoria and her mother Jeanne present Debra Adzema, lead House Manager, with a check.

 What an unexpected surprise to receive a phone call from Victoria, an 8th grade student at Holy Trinity Roman Catholic School. Victoria organized a fundraiser for Fontebella Maternity Home during the final days of the 2012 school year.

With approval from the school Principal, Holy Trinity students were allowed to dress down and not wear their uniforms when the donated any amount from $1.00 – $5.00; all to benefit Fontebella. The students raised over $400 – what a wonderful gift from these young people! Fontebella is the only maternity home serving the area from St. Louis to Mount Vernon and South to Carbondale.

We provide our guests shelter, educational programs, individual counseling, as well as life skills and so much more!

Thank you Victoria and all the students at Holy Trinity who helped raise this money, insuring that more young ladies will have a safe place to have their babies.

At 8:00am on a Saturday morning, cars, trucks, and over 20 members of the O’Fallon Assembly of God Church arrived at Fontebella.  We were the lucky recipient’s of the congregations Servolution.  Volunteers came with shovels, rakes, hammers and work gloves; they were men, women, and children – and they were all there to help Fontebella.

Fontebella is officially recognized by the CFC.  When the time comes to fill out your payroll deduction, be sure to designate your donation to Fontebella Maternity Home  #62145.  Your monthly donation will allow us to continue our ministry with young ladies as they prepare for a safe birth and raising a healthy baby. 

                                                             Remember # 62145

Take one weekend and the workings of the magnificent men from
Shiloh United Methodist Church and Fontebellas Farmhouse became
visible.  Sitting vacant for two years, the bushes and weeds had over
taken  our wonderful home, but thanks to the wonderful sharing of
there time and manpower we can be see from the street once again. 
The before and after photos are a sight to believe.  Many thanks and
blessings to this wonderful group of men.

To better serve, inform and educate, Fontebella Maternity Shelter has launched a new website. Please browse through our new site and contact us with any questions, comments or suggestions.  We would love to hear from you.

A special thanks to Visual Lure web design for such a great new website.

The Fontebella Family remains excited about all the good things happening with the Ministry in this year of 2011.

We continue to wish for all of you best wishes and prosperity; and we continue to ask for your prayerful support for this Ministry and all who pass through it! Remember: God loves each of us unconditionally at all stages of our life – from conception through natural death – it is He who will continue to bless you and continue to shine down His blessings upon you and your family through His always-present spirit!

Please pray for Fontebella and all who toil away in the Ministry as we journey through 2011 with heads held high and a determination worthy of the young women we work hard with every day to ensure that they, like you and I, feel God’s unconditional love as well!