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Birthright of Boise celebrates mission of supporting women, families
by Kathryn Pasker Ineck
ICR Assistant Editor
Birthright of Boise hosted its annual benefit, the Heartfelt Harvest Dinner Auction, on Saturday, October 3, at Potomac Manor in Boise. As a non-profit, interdenominational, volunteer-staffed pregnancy resource center, Birthright relies on donations to keep its doors open and the benefit — featuring guest speakers, dinner, raffles and silent auction — is its largest fundraiser each year.
Hope Ryan, Salt & Light Radio Morning Show co-host, acted as emcee and kept the evening on track beginning with opening remarks. Birthright Board President Mary Pasker offered a blessing before speakers Mary Kay Klein and Kathy Webster, Birthright of Boise’s executive director and outreach coordinator, respectively, addressed the attendees.
A desire to be seen
“There is a deep human need that every single one of us in this room shares tonight: the simple desire to be seen,” said Webster, a St. Mark’s, Boise, parishioner. “To know that when life becomes heavy, the unexpected happens, and we are feeling completely overwhelmed, we do not have to carry that weight alone.”
In recent years, Birthright of Boise has expanded its efforts to include offering online classes and higher education scholarships to single mothers: three women have so far been awarded and that monetary support has given them the ability to care for their children while gaining important skills.
One such recipient, Emily, is on track to graduate from the nursing program at the College of Western Idaho in the Spring of 2027.
Kennedy, a Boise native and Boise State University graduate returned to school to study cosmetology. An unexpected pregnancy and subsequent breakup with her long-term boyfriend made paying tuition difficult. But Birthright stepped, offering scholarship assistance as she prepares for the birth of her child.
Birthright is also part of the effort to add a Safe Haven Baby Box in Nampa, slated for installation next summer and funded by Angels Among Us and Treasure Valley Teens for Life. Once it is cleared by city officials, the box will be installed and Birthright will fund the yearly maintenance and training fees.
Community outreach
Rather than waiting in the office for women in need to come to Birthright, participation within local communities is important.
“The billboards, resource fairs, community partner meetings and advertising aren’t just marketing — they can be a lifeline for women who might not otherwise know we exist,” Webster explained. “They ensure that when someone’s classmate, coworker, neighbor, daughter or themselves are navigating the unexpected, they know exactly where to turn to find a safe space for their questions, a listening ear and support, including material aid and online classes.
“Awareness opens the door, whether through a conversation at a tabling event, our logo seen on a bus panel, an online search, or a referral from a community partner,” she added, “But the real impact happens through genuine, one-on-one support. It’s about ensuring everyone who visits our office feels seen, heard, and loved. We owe endless gratitude to our volunteers who make those moments possible.”
Mary Kay Klein, member of St. Paul’s BSU Student Center, Boise, first heard about Birthright many years ago through a friend at her parish. “Since my background is as maternal child health and lactation consultant, I was kind of piqued by the opportunity to work with moms and babies and so I thought, ‘Wow, that’s a great way I can combine my religious pro-life interests with my professional interest.” She acted as a volunteer before becoming co-executive director and later executive director.
While Birthright does not affiliate with other pregnancy resource centers, Klein explained that “even though we’re not a faith-based group by definition, we still partner with [other PRCs] in the sense that we all get together quarterly and just share what we’re doing, and it’s interesting to different groups that are involved. And it’s not just pregnancy resource centers; they could be housing authorities or job training programs, so we keep each other up-to-date on what we’re doing, or what we’ve heard is going on in the community.”
This collaboration helps Birthright get the right care, resources and support to the women who need it.
People often walk past Birthright booths at public tabling events because they don’t realize Birthright’s resources extend a lot further than pregnancy counseling, “When people feel defensive, they shut down; when they see what Birthright offers, they are amazed,” Klein observed.
Birthright resources and services
Birthright offers free, confidential and nonjudgmental support to women who are pregnant, or think they might be, regardless of age, marital status, race, religion, location or income. All visits are completely confidential and completely free of charge, regardless of income level, and all visits seek to understand the needs of the person before them to offer factual, unbiased information about pregnancy options and access to services.
While not a medical clinic, Birthright provides medical-grade pregnancy tests and Medicaid pregnancy test verification forms as well as community resource referrals; maternity and baby/toddler clothes, diapers and wipes; scholarships, parenting and life skills classes and other forms of support to both women and men.
Newborn layettes are provided to moms, and each includes diapers, receiving blankets, several new articles of clothing and small toys.
“New mama boxes” are a highlight for new mothers coming to Birthright for assistance — provided with the assistance of the Order of Malta — and contain emotional support items like hand lotion, socks and a water cup. A recent and practical companion to the new mama boxes are the “new mama hygiene boxes,” which include essentials to help new moms as they navigate the first few weeks at home, like shampoo, conditioner and laundry detergent.
History
Birthright was established in Ontario, Toronto, Canada, in 1968 by Louise Summerhill, a Catholic, stay-at-home mom of seven who was compelled to do something to help women facing unplanned pregnancies.
“When Louise founded Birthright back in 1968,” Webster explained, “she laid down a foundational principle: Birthright should be staffed by volunteers. Why? Because Louise understood something fundamental. As she states in her book [The Story of Birthright: The Alternative to Abortion], ‘We should not underestimate the power of love. We do not need professional training in order to listen, to understand, to love.’”
The Birthright of Boise chapter was founded in 1977 to assist women local to the Treasure Valley; it was later relocated to Meridian as the population grew and moved west. “I am immensely proud of the work we are doing to ensure that every single mother — and father — in the Treasure Valley knows they are not alone,” Webster said.
Outside the Treasure Valley, Idaho boasts chapters in Coeur d’Alene and Idaho Falls.
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