As the holiday season approaches, the spirit of giving is ready to shine. Giving Tuesday, celebrated the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, unites people worldwide in a powerful movement of generosity.
This year, Noozhawk invites you to make a difference right here in our community. With our Giving Guide, you can easily explore local organizations that need your support, empowering you to create a meaningful impact as we close out the year.
Visit our Good for Santa Barbara Nonprofit Section to find opportunities to donate and spread kindness throughout the community this holiday season!
In this interview Noozhawk spoke with Loretta Johnson, Executive Director, at Villa Majella Santa Barbara to learn more about their mission to provide support to in-crisis pregnant women and infants.
Villa Majella of Santa Barbara
Question: What is the name of your nonprofit, and what is its mission?
Answer: Since our doors opened in 1982, Villa Majella of Santa Barbara has supported hundreds of women 18 and over in their decision to carry their babies to term under difficult situations, whether they choose to personally parent or lovingly select an adoptive home.
Q: How long has your organization been serving the community, and who founded it?
A: Villa Majella has been serving in-crisis pregnant women and infants for 42 years! The founding board of directors included Mary Craig, Peter Da Ros, Barbara Die Bold, Teresa Grant Kimbell, Mary Klink, Colleen Kirst, Frances Morehart, Mercedes Roux, Linda Saucedo, Alex Saucedo, Miles Sharkey, and Mary Turtle.
Q: How is your nonprofit primarily funded, and what are its biggest needs right now?
A: Villa Majella is primarily funded by the generosity of individuals and families, the dedicated support of local foundations, and the commitment of monthly pledge donors. Participant program fees and contributions from businesses and community organizations also make our work possible.
Villa Majella operates 365 days a year. Like all maternity homes, we provide 24 hour on call staff support and we know that staff support is invaluable to our moms and babies.
Villa Majella’s most pressing needs include operating support to ensure that staff are available to implement the personalized programming created for each program participant, and to meet the day-to-day health, safety, physical and emotional needs of program participants 24 hours a day.
Our staff accompany women through the day-to-day physical and emotional changes involved in pregnancy. They provide emotional support and respond to women’s immediate needs and questions. They transport women to medical appointments, to the hospital in case of emergency situations, and to the hospital for delivery (often in the middle of the night!).
During their time at Villa Majella, through the support and care provided by staff, pregnant women stabilize their lives, make healthy decisions, and strengthen parenting skills. Aided and accompanied by our staff, program participants get connected to the medical and mental health resources that support them during pregnancy, and as they grow toward healthy and self-sufficient parenting.
Q: How do you allocate your funding to support your mission?
A: Villa Majella manages a four-bedroom, two-bathroom residential home located in the suburbs of Santa Barbara, which provides temporary shelter for women during the duration of their pregnancies and up to five months after their babies are born. Our home can house up to six pregnant women at once, although capacity depends on how many infants are in the house at any given time, staffing, and other health and safety protocols.
Funding ensures that our doors remain open so that pregnant women in crisis situations are supported according to their individual needs. Villa Majella provides essential services – which starts with having a stable shelter. Many of our moms are seeking support and refuge during a difficult and uncertain time. Some are experiencing homelessness or are fleeing domestic violence and abusive situations.
We are the only organization in the county that provides a Maternity Home Program to pregnant women in crisis. We work to connect pregnant women with a wide range of services and resources and we aim to set each woman up for long term success.
Q: What types of events or programs do you run to engage your community and raise funds?
A: Our Autumn BBQ is our annual fundraiser event. For the past 23 years our supporters have gathered in October to celebrate Villa Majella’s mission. Between 150 and 200 community members enjoy delicious Santa Maria Style BBQ sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, Council 1684 and the Catholic Daughters of America Court 293. Guests listen to live local musical talent, presentations by alumni moms, and bid on silent auction items donated by over 70 local businesses.
We are also in the process of planning a second fundraiser event for the spring. We have volunteer days with local schools, churches, and youth organizations. We also host outreach activities to share information and flyers about our services across the county to ensure that the community knows that we are here, we care, and we can help!
Q: How can people get involved with your nonprofit or volunteer?
A: To get involved as an outreach volunteer there are three easy steps:
- Go to our website and complete the volunteer application
- Attend a volunteer interview
- Complete our on-site orientation training
Q: What sets your nonprofit apart from similar organizations?
A: Villa Majella has supported over 600 pregnant women and infants by offering a safe home, weekly meals, pregnancy care, education, guidance and support. Villa Majella connects moms to partner agencies who provide counseling services, parenting classes, motherhood support groups, and educational opportunities such as the SPARC program at Santa Barbara City College. We provide every woman with information about over 25 community programs and services that can help them throughout their pregnancies and after delivery.
Women are referred to Villa Majella by social workers, homeless shelters, counseling and rehabilitation centers, faith-based organizations, and individual community members. Many women are referred from within Santa Barbara County, while others are referred from elsewhere in California or out of state. No matter the specific circumstances of their arrival at Villa Majella, each pregnant woman receives the safe shelter, individual care, material items, counseling and individualized program support that is needed.
We support each woman to make sure that their pregnancies are healthy and that their lives can move in the direction that they want them to. We provide a safe and healthy place for our moms to grow into motherhood with grace and dignity.
Q: Can you share a fun fact or little-known detail about your nonprofit that would surprise people?
A: The average age of the mothers we support is 25! We have served expectant mothers who are 18 and moms who are 35!
Q: Could you share a story or two about individuals whose lives have been positively impacted by your organization?
A: When she found out she was pregnant, Ava was certain she wanted to keep her baby. At the same time, she had no idea how she was going to support herself during pregnancy and after. Alone and crying in her room at 3am, Ava searched the internet for support. In the middle of that night, she found Villa Majella’s website and submitted an inquiry. The next day she called our program and soon after she moved into our Maternity Home Program.
During her stay at Villa Majella Ava was able to continue her college degree, get pregnancy and parenting support, and save money. Our staff also informed her of the many community resources that would help her along her delivery, postpartum, newborn care, and parenting journey. Two and a half years later, Ava rents her own apartment, works, and cares for her beautiful daughter. She also visits Villa Majella to share her story and gives so much hope to our moms!
Q: How do you share your nonprofit’s impact and updates with the public?
A: We share updates and information about our impact and our collaborations with the wider community in a biannual newsletter. Email us at info@villamajella.org to join our mailing list!
Q: What makes your organization trustworthy for donors, and are there other ways people can support your cause beyond donations?
A: Donors should trust Villa Majella because we have a demonstrated record of 42 years of service to the most vulnerable members of our Santa Barbara community. Pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum needs are unique to each woman and infant. There are many ways to get involved and help out!
To care for our infants, volunteers often help out by transporting moms to baby well visits and help teach infant care skills. They also donate diapers (especially sizes 2 – 6), wipes, baby wash, baby shampoo and baby thermometers.
To care for our mothers, volunteers create labor and delivery hospital care kits, decorate a mother’s door on her delivery day, and participate in collecting material needs for delivery and postpartum recovery. They provide transportation to moms, especially during the third trimester and also accompany moms for in-house activities in the home providing support and encouragement.
To care for our whole community, volunteers provide hot nutrient rich family meals and snacks, teach classes, and get involved in event planning. Volunteers help with ongoing communications efforts, office tasks, and event planning and preparation. They spend time organizing supplies that we collect for our moms and babies. Volunteers also lead our organization by serving as members of the board of directors.
Click here to support Villa Majella’s mission to provide support to women 18 and over in their decision to carry their babies to term under difficult situations, whether they choose to personally parent or lovingly select an adoptive home.
Check out Noozhawk’s Guide to Giving for a full list of nonprofits to donate to this giving season.
If you would like to include your nonprofit in our Good for Santa Barbara section and Giving Guide click HERE.