Eileen Artysh, executive director of the Bensalem-based Saint Margaret of Castello Maternity Home, is nervous about its future.
The majority of Saint Margaret’s funding is through Real Alternatives, a nonprofit that, according to its website, provides “life-affirming pregnancy and parenting support services” for those who choose childbirth rather than abortion. In August, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced that, by the end of December, Pennsylvania will end its contract with Real Alternatives.
“For decades, taxpayer dollars have gone to fund Real Alternatives. My administration will not continue that pattern — we will ensure women in this commonwealth receive the reproductive healthcare they deserve,” said Shapiro. “Pennsylvanians made clear by electing me as governor that they support a woman’s freedom to choose, and I will be steadfast in defending that right.”
According to government officials and The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, maternity homes and other pregnancy facilities under the umbrella of Real Alternatives try to sway women away from abortions — and the right to choose — through trickery and manipulation.
Artysh stressed that Saint Margaret isn’t involved in any of that, and shouldn’t be considered an “anti-abortion clinic.” When expecting mothers come to the home, they’ve already made the decision to have the baby, and are just in need of a little help.
“When he [Gov. Shapiro] got into office, he promised that he would protect a woman’s right to choose. And I’m like, ‘OK, but you’re taking away resources for moms that choose to have their child and making something political that isn’t.’ This isn’t a pro-life or pro-choice debate,” said Artysh. “We don’t recruit. I always tell people, it’s not like we go out on the boulevard with a sign like, ‘Pregnant? Call me!’ Moms come to us, we don’t do any type of recruiting.”
Saint Margaret of Castello Maternity Home, a five-time top-rated organization by GreatNonprofits, has been operating since 1986 and currently serves about 120 moms — plus some dads — monthly. Free pregnancy and parenting education classes are offered as well as life skills lessons that help parents get their resumes together, finish up their degrees and more. A bilingual counselor is on hand to work with the Spanish-speaking community.
Additionally, the home can house up to four moms at a time who need a place to stay, whether they’re homeless, escaping domestic abuse or any number of other situations. Housing is available for free, up until the child is 8 months old. The other services are available for parents with a child under the age of 1.
“We help moms, dads, really anyone who needs help with parenting, we tell them to call us,” said Artysh.
When Artysh joined Saint Margaret a little over five years ago, she implemented a case management approach that allows staff to focus on the woman as a whole, not just her pregnancy. In Artysh’s opinion, if the woman can be the best version of herself, with a good job and stable environment for her little one, everything else will fall into place. Ultimately, explained Artysh, the goal is to create a village of support for those who don’t have one.
“I have moms that make $0. I have moms that make six figures. And the moral support factor is a big thing of it. A common compliment that we get is, they don’t feel judged. Sometimes, when you go to friends or family, they’ll say, ‘Why should I help you? You shouldn’t have had a kid if you couldn’t do this.’ Some moms are working two jobs and just need an extra pack of diapers to get her through to payday because the car broke down,” said Artysh. “We act as the parents’ villages. They tell you that it takes a village to raise a child, but where do you get this village? You can’t put it on your Amazon wish list. We’re here as an unbiased cheerleader, basically.”
It wasn’t until she received an email containing the press release from Shapiro’s office that Artysh learned about the impending defunding of Real Alternatives.
“I was beyond shocked just for the fact that, a week or two prior, he approved additional funding for our program,” she said. “Normally, the program goes up to the child’s first birthday and he approved it to be extended.”
Though Artysh has tried reaching the governor via multiple avenues, including TikTok, she has yet to get in touch. All the while, she has moms calling her to ask, “Why don’t I matter to him?” Artysh has been informed by some political leaders that funding might remain for facilities that offer medical care, but that doesn’t include Saint Margaret: “We provide the parenting and pregnancy education. We provide assistance with clothing, wipes, diapers, formula.”
She added that, though there are resources out there like WIC, they’re not always easy to get in touch with and are already overwhelmed with clients. Saint Margaret serves as an advocate for women, reaching out on their behalf.
If the contract with Real Alternatives ends, Saint Margaret won’t experience an instant closure. However, community donations will only be able to keep its doors open for so long.
“In our case, is it a make it or break it to where we shut down in December? No. Will it absolutely, hands down, impact the longevity of us? Yes,” said Artysh. “The moms we help are scared, and we’re trying to reassure them that Saint Margaret is there until the end.”
Artysh expressed her wish that Shapiro, or someone from his office, visits the home (without the moms there for confidentiality reasons) to see that it’s not a radical anti-abortion facility.
“It’s making our funding political and it shouldn’t be,” she said, describing Saint Margaret as, at its heart, a social services provider and pregnancy resource center. “I understand his reasoning, but at the end of the day, what he’s saying is not an accurate portrayal.”
She added that, contrary to common belief, Saint Margaret is not religiously affiliated, doesn’t initiate religious-based conversations with clients and doesn’t promote pro-life religious beliefs. Though it was started by a group of Christians, hence the name, it’s a public nonprofit.
“It’s not fair that they’re making just literal help for parents and babies a political thing. We just want to be there as a support,” said Artysh. “They are the most incredible women. Some moms have been through some crazy trauma, horrible, and they work their butts off. They are amazing moms and they accomplish incredible things, and it’s the best thing in the world to see them because everyone else said, ‘You can’t do this,’ and they said, ‘I’m gonna prove you wrong.’ It’s awesome.”
Samantha Bambino can be reached at sbambino@newspapermediagroup.com
