Care Net of Carbon County holds annual fundraising gala

Care Net of Carbon County held its 18th annual fundraising gala on Saturday at Whispering Pines in Penn Forest.

Although the gala was for obtaining pledges for the organization, the program also included people sharing their stories of how Care Net helped them through difficult times in their lives.

Over 100 people attended the event. In charge of the program was Suzi DeMara, executive director of Care Net.

DeMara mentioned some of Care Net’s pressing financial needs, including roof repairs at both its centers in Lehighton and Nesquehoning, repairs to the parking lot at its Nesquehoning site, an OB/GYN examining table with stirrups, a sanitation unit and a computer for nurses to input patient data.

She said the organization is also looking for a physician to help with its prenatal care.

She stressed that the mission statement of Care Net is, “We are a Christ-centered community resource providing support to those facing pregnancy, and encouraging healthy choices in sexuality, relationships and parenting.”

The guest speaker was Wendy Burpee, executive director of the Genesis Women’s Clinic in Pottstown. Burpee relayed her personal story about how she was raised in a Christian family, was a straight-A student and then plunged into a life of despair, which included having a boyfriend who physically abused her and undergoing abortions.

She eventually received help from a high school friend and relied on her Christian faith to turn her life around.

Today, she is happily married with three children, had a book published, has a job she enjoys at a pro-life center and counsels young women about pregnancy.

She recalled her first visit to an abortion center.

“They told me as they were putting medicine into my arm, ‘When you wake up, everything will be back to normal.’ That was a lie,” she said.

She said she felt she was undeserving of anything good from Christ. But, she returned to church, her parents began to check in with her and she and her mother were reconnected.

“The past was gone,” she said. “I had banished it never to speak of it again.”

That changed when an abused woman came to Genesis and was considering an abortion. Burpee shared her personal experiences with the visitor.

“I knew what God wanted me to do,” she said, noting that it was to tell her story.

“There is fear and uncertainty in this county about unborn life,” she said. “Care Net wants to be there to give them guidance.”

Justin Pezzeca, 40, of Lehighton, told how Care Net helped him. He said he had moved here from Georgia to be closer to his parents. “My pregnant girlfriend and I migrated to Lehighton with the clothing on our backs,” he said.

He had spent 10 years in prison. He also was forced to move into an apartment provided by Family Promise, an agency that helps homeless people.

Pezzeca said Family Promise introduced him to Care Net. He began getting family counseling and individual counseling.

He said because of the help he received from Care Net, he has worked to pull his life back together. This includes being a better father.

A 17-year-old Lehighton student said she came to Care Net, having found it difficult to cope after her parents divorced.

Through Care Net, “slowly but surely I’m getting on a better path with God,” he said. “I feel good about myself.”

She said without Care Net, she likely would have failed out of high school.

Alyssa and Shane Grohotolski spoke about their experiences with Care Net and gave special thanks to DeMara for her assistance.

The invocation was offered by the Rev. Claudio Ruba. The benediction was given by Bill Tarr.

A video was shown on “Child’s Development from Fertilization to Birth.”