Kim Burdine headed out from Good Shepherd Children and Family Services in University City with a trunk full of items to distribute.

First stop for the social worker from the Catholic Charities of St. Louis federated agency was the apartment of a mom and her 1-year-old in Good Shepherd’s Pregnancy and Parenting Support program. Burdine dropped off diapers, wipes and paper towels on the doorstep. Next stop was another drop-off for a mom of a 2-year-old. The mom, 19, and her child just found housing after living in a shelter program at Good Shepherd for teenage moms. She received kitchen essentials and cleaning supplies.

“It gives me joy to help others,” Burdine said. “It brightens my day.”

The Pregnancy and Parenting Support program provides services for expectant moms, dads and family members impacted by a pregnancy; pregnant and parenting teens in need of help in learning how to parent; and parents of infants and toddlers to age 3 who are parenting under stressful circumstances.

Burdine’s efforts are made possible by donors. Good Shepherd recently reached out in an April Showers drive for diapers and related items. Donations of diapers, wipes and baby items also come from the St. Louis Area Diaper Bank. But a diaper drive held by permanent deacons each year in March yielded fewer diapers due to public Masses being suspended. More donations are sought to assist a rising need.

Michael Meehan, executive director, said the agency’s other programs also focus on mothers and their children, including a maternity shelter and transitional living program for women who otherwise would be homeless and treatment foster care and traditional foster care programs. “The need for those items is now arguably even more extreme as so many folks are out of work, facing furlough or have other unanticipated expenses that make those everyday items out of reach,” Meehan said.

Clients often come to Good Shepherd in crisis, he said “and if we can assist with that immediate crisis — which is sometimes housing, sometimes immediate financial concerns, keeping utilities going, basic needs such as diapers and wipes and baby items — then once those pressures are relieved, we can engage in the more formal part of counseling, treatment and education around parenting and child development.”

Good Shepherd adapted its services due to COVID-19. Burdine formerly spent about 45 minutes with clients on a visit. Now she spends that much time or more with them on the phone. “I miss seeing them, going in the homes and having one-on-one time with them,” Burdine said.

But she understands the need for social distancing and avoiding the big hugs she gets sometimes.

Meehan said the other programs continue. “Babies continue to be born, and cases of babies and toddlers in foster care continue to flow our way. The need tends to be greater as this economic downturn brought on by the pandemic really takes hold.”

Staff and clients in the maternity program created a poster using the letters COVID-19 for positive words, focusing on faith getting people through a difficult time. The young moms also made a chalk mural on the driveway with a positive message.

“Sometimes those we are serving teach us a lot about God, too,” Meehan said. “We try to make that a conscious part of our ministry (which as a Catholic Charities agency is a recipient of Annual Catholic Appeal funds). One of our expressed goals is trying to to be the face of God for those we serve and trying to see the face of God in them. It leads us to be hopeful about our work.”

Some deacons asked their parishioners to donate to the diaper drive if they could. Included was Deacon Dave Dille of Christ the King Parish, who helps with the chapel at Good Shepherd where his pastor, Msgr. Mike Turek celebrates one of two Masses there each month. Deacon John Bischof of St. Richard Parish in Creve Coeur and Deacon Patrick Belding of Christ Prince of Peace Parish also coordinated diaper drives.

>> How to help

• Diapers, wipes and baby items can be donated directly to Good Shepherd by shopping at Target or Amazon and shipping them to Good Shepherd Children and Family Services, 1340 Partridge Ave., St. Louis, MO 63130. Visit www.bit.ly/2Yf3uo8.

• Monetary donations may be made at www.goodshepherdstl.org/ donations.

• For information, call (314) 854-5700.

>> Three-county effort

Sts. Joachim and Ann Care Service in St. Charles recently hosted drive-through diaper giveaways in St. Charles, Lincoln and Warren counties. The agency supported by the Annual Catholic Appeal donated diapers and wipes to more than 100 low-income families.

“Many of our families with young children are struggling to provide the most basic needs for their families. Diapers and wipes are expensive for our families, and we wanted to ease some of their burden,” said Pam Struckhoff, executive director at Sts. Joachim and Ann Care Service. “A drive-through service will allow these families to safely access needed diapers and wipes while practicing social distancing.”

Partners included the Lincoln County Health Department, Building Beyond, the Lincoln County Early Childhood Taskforce, the Warren County Health Department and the Warren County North East Community Action Corporation. Mercy Lincoln County and the Bank of Old Monroe were among the businesses that provided support.

Sts. Joachim and Ann still is accepting items, and especially needs larger-sized diapers (5/6) and pull-ups. Donations can be dropped off in the shopping cart located outside the main entrance during office hours at the Care Service, 4116 McClay Road in St. Charles, or by visiting the Care Service Wish List at Amazon. To make a cash donation, visit www.jacares.org/how-to-help.