Must Have Been a God Thing-ZoeCare Summer Newsletter

Must have been a God thing: ZoeCare adds Orange City Location

From the Director: Rachel Jones

Leading the ministry of ZoeCare is always growing and stretching my faith in new ways. There are many times when we see miracles take place and know it was the Lord’s doing. We like to call those moments a “God thing.”

Sometimes it is someone donating just the right baby item that one of our clients needs. Sometimes it is a volunteer who meets with a client and is just the right person to minister to them.

This announcement is another one of those times when we have seen the Lord work in wonderful and mysterious ways.

ZoeCare has added a new location in Orange City, IA!

Guiding Star has been open and serving the Siouxland area since 2016 and has been an important part of the ZoeCare story since our beginning. In 2019, a group of women from Yankton went to Orange City to hear Abby Johnson speak at the Guiding Star Gala Fundraiser. This event was the catalyst that the Lord used to call me to start ZoeCare. Since that time, I have continued to watch and follow along with Guiding Star and the work they have been doing in my hometown community.

This spring, while visiting my grandparents in Orange City, I stopped by to check out the Guiding Star office. Jessica gave me a tour, and we had a lovely visit. Following that visit, I began connecting with their Director, Kaleigh. Kaleigh confided that leadership of a rural nonprofit could be lonely, and Guiding Star was struggling to truly meet the needs of their community, specifically in meeting abortion vulnerable women. I offered to let them join our ZoeCare team, and they were immediately interested.

ZoeCare has a unique mission: we combine life-affirming pregnancy services with the hope of the gospel. Our first core value is the gospel; it is the most valuable resource we are offering. The gospel is better than options education or ultrasound. The gospel has the power to impact the woman's soul and, in turn, change her life, her legacy, and her heart towards the child she is carrying.

Never could I have predicted that the pregnancy center that originally inspired me to open ZoeCare would one day request to come under our leadership and join our team. What a beautiful story! Orange City is my hometown, and I am thrilled to be able to minister to this community. I know I couldn’t do this or make it happen; it must have been a God thing.

Rachel with Kaleigh, Orange City Center Director

Alesha and Deb, Orange City nurses, training with Laura, Nurse Manager

Rachel with Jessica, Orange City Business Administrator

Vermillion, SD

These pictures show the future home of the Vermillion Baby Boutique.

Want to get involved?

Host a baby supply drive with your church, bible study or workplace!

Contact Janna for more information:

janna@zoecarepregnancy.org

What is Earn While You Learn?

Written by: Sarah Wald, ZoeCare Resource Center Director

Earn While You Learn (EWYL) is the Resource Center's educational incentive program designed to encourage parents as they prepare for pregnancy, parenting, and family life. Clients earn points by attending appointments and completing simple homework assignments based on parenting videos. These points can then be redeemed in our boutique for essential baby and children's items such as diapers, wipes, clothing, blankets, medicines, and much more. In addition, active clients receive free diapers and wipes for their baby until six months of age through our Blessed Bottoms program.

Clients can also earn points by attending our group classes or by participating in activities outside of ZoeCare, such as attending church, Bible studies, school, doctor's appointments, or other parenting and family education programs.

While earning points is an exciting benefit, the purpose of Earn While You Learn is much deeper. Our program has three primary goals. First, appointments provide an opportunity for clients to build meaningful, supportive relationships with our staff and volunteer advocates. These trusted relationships allow us to encourage families throughout pregnancy and as they raise their children. Second, the points system helps provide practical resources that ease the financial strain of caring for a growing family. Third, clients watch parenting videos that offer practical guidance on topics such as pregnancy, infant care, child development, and healthy parenting strategies. Finally, at the close of each appointment, we ask each client if they would like to pray with us. If they do, we have the privilege of praying with them and sharing the gospel.

Get Involved!

The Resource Center thrives because of our amazing volunteers! Every day, volunteers serve as receptionists and client advocates, building relationships, encouraging families, and helping our ministry run smoothly. Currently, we have several open volunteer shifts and would love to welcome more people to our team. If you've been looking for a meaningful way to serve families in our community, we would be honored to train you and help you find a place to serve. The following volunteers are needed for our Yankton, Vermillion, and Orange City locations.

Receptionists

Be a welcoming face at ZoeCare’s Resource Center
Schedule Client Appointments
Enter Client Rewards/Points
Assist with small projects

Advocates

Build relationships with clients
Watch parenting videos and discuss lessons
Provide support & prayer

Volunteer Application

Want to make your giving go further while avoiding taxes?

Learn more about Qualified Charitable Distributions!

How can I donate to a charity using my IRA without paying taxes on it?

Giving a donation from your IRA directly to an eligible charity tax-free is called a Qualified Charitable Distribution. When doing a traditional cash donation to a charity, the gift is donated after taxes are withheld on the earned income. However, using a Qualified Charitable Distribution from an IRA allows you to give a larger gift to the charity without paying taxes on the donation to the IRS.

How old do I have to be to take advantage of using a Qualified Charitable Distribution from my IRA?

If you are 70 1/2 years old or older and own an IRA, you can take advantage of a Qualified Charitable Distribution to transfer an amount from your IRA, tax-free up to $111,000 per year, directly to a qualified charity. Married couples can donate up to $222,000 if both spouses have separate IRAs and meet the requirements.

Can I give my Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from my IRA to ZoeCare?

Yes! Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) are the mandatory minimum amounts the IRS requires you to withdraw each year from your IRA. If you process a Qualified

Charitable Distribution (QCD) from your IRA, that donation can count towards your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) requirement, and you will not pay taxes on it.

Using a QCD lowers your adjusted gross income and taxable income.

This article was written with help from Angie Jorgensen at Catholic United Financial. If you are interested in making a Qualified Charitable Distrubution to ZoeCare, you are welcome to contact Angie for assisstance.

ajorgensen@catholicunited.org or (605) 660-5814

New to ZoeCare?

Welcome!

You may be new to this newsletter, because you have previously supported Guiding Star Siouxland. If that is the case, welcome!!! We are so glad you are here.

We are grateful for the opportunity to begin serving women in Siouxland with excellence and compassion.

Please visit our website to learn more about our mission and how we can partner together to rescue unborn lives, support young families, and introduce souls to the saving love of Jesus Christ.

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