SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA CO. (WOLF) — Brick by brick, the Providence Pregnancy Center in Scranton is moving forward with Phase 2 renovations at its Casa de Maria Maternity Home.
As the center continues its mission to support pregnant women and babies across Northeastern Pennsylvania with ongoing renovations, it has launched its ‘Casa de Maria Brick Campaign.’
The campaign invites community members to purchase personalized, engraved bricks that will be featured in a new garden outside the facility.
What began as a simple idea this past fall quickly grew into a meaningful community campaign. Volunteer Jodi Bello shared how the center’s Casa de Maria Brick Campaign came to life.
“After our brainstorming session, we came up with engraved bricks because not only do donors have the opportunity to donate, but they also have the ability to leave something behind. We thought it would be a perfect way for the donors to offer hope and encouragement to our mothers, in some way, with an engraved brick. We didn’t really know where that was going to end up, but that’s what we started with,” said Jodi Bello.
For Executive Director Jessice Freyne, the Brick Campaign is more than a fundraiser—it’s a step toward creating a stable, welcoming home for mothers and their children.
“Our maternity home currently is half complete. The second floor has three bedrooms where we’re able to house moms and their children. This fundraiser is to help us with the funds for the first floor of the home, so that once that’s complete, we’ll have common living area, living space for the moms, and a big open eating kitchen. So, all of the funds from the garden design, or completion rather will go toward funding that for us,” said Freyne.
“There are other maternity homes in the area, but none that offer housing for moms who have other children. So, if you’re in a crisis pregnancy and you have a two-year-old and you need a place to go, there really wasn’t one. There are some shelters that offer temporary shelter, but what Casa de Maria does is offer a place for a mom to stay throughout their whole pregnancy and then up to a year after. So, giving them stability and a chance to kind of just start over their life. And then our pregnancy center, we see over 200 families a year here,” said Freyne.
Although the garden path at Casa de Maria is still unfinished, project manager Jason Bello with Perez Design Build Remodel is working alongside the center to create the ‘Casa de Maria: Prayer Garden’ using the donated bricks.
“My wife mentioned that she was volunteering down here, and this opportunity came about for a garden space. So, I came down, met with Jessica. There’s nothing here now. It’s all asphalt. So, I got really excited about the project. The potential, as Jodi mentioned, to kind of leave a mark on the community. Not something just for now, but lasting. So, yeah, the possibilities are great potential back there,” said Jason Bello.
To learn more about the Casa de Maria Brick Campaign, click here.