Care Clinic holds fundraising banquet

The U.P. Catholic

“Every day the Care Clinic stands as a beacon of hope. We could not do that without your support,” said Kit Pillifant, board chair for the Care Clinic, at the clinic’s annual fundraising banquet. The Care Clinic offers services such as pregnancy testing, ultrasounds to confirm pregnancy, pregnancy counseling, material assistance, STI/STD testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea, and an “Earn While You Learn” program, as well as many other services. The Care Clinic is also an abortion pill reversal (APR) provider. In addition to the Marquette location, there are two satellite centers in Gwinn and Ishpeming.

The banquet was held on Oct. 17 at Northern Michigan University’s Northern Center, with the theme of “Let’s Build Each Other Up.” Greg Gostomski, executive director of the Care Clinic, said, “We are so lifted up by our communities, individuals and churches that want to make a real difference in their community. They lift us up, and in turn we are able to lift up our clients.”

Pillifant offered a welcome to all the banquet attendees, which was followed by an opening prayer said by Pastor Steve Jensen from Hope Free Lutheran Church in Ishpeming. A meal and social time followed the welcome and opening prayer.

Gostomski gave an update on the ministry of the Care Clinic, including statistics of how many clients were served. From October 2023 to September 2024, the care clinic had 3,012 total client visits. He thanked the Care Clinic staff as well as the attendees of the banquet for their support.

In his remarks, Gostomski highlighted the Care Clinic’s healing program called “Surrendering the Secret,” an eight-week confidential Scripture study for post-abortion healing. “A woman who is struggling or suffering after an abortion can come to the Care Clinic and find forgiveness, peace and healing … [the study] lets them work through those feelings and find that forgiveness from God that’s already there,” he said.

Gostomski also encouraged women to sign up as female mentors for clients. “We have a men’s mentoring program … but women are on a waiting list, waiting to get a mentor. We need mentors to walk alongside our clients, to share your knowledge with them, to share your faith with them.”

A video containing testimonies about the Care Clinic and its impact on its clients was shown, showcasing three different women who used the services available to them. Jennifer and Diana, two of the clients featured in the videos, were present at the banquet and stood and received applause from those in attendance after the videos concluded.

In her video segment, Jennifer shared the story of how she attended the banquet in a previous year and felt drawn to contacting the Care Clinic staff after learning more about post-abortion healing. She had previously had an abortion and was emotionally impacted by an ultrasound that had been performed at the banquet.

Jennifer attended a Surrendering the Secret meeting. “In Surrendering the Secret I saw so many women go through the same emotions I had—the guilt and the shame—and they were able to persevere through that with one another and it has ultimately changed my heart and my path going forward with God and with myself, and with my unborn child.”

“I will always be sad, but I’m not broken,” Jennifer said. “The encouragement from other women is huge … That healing and mercy is there for you.”

Diana shared the story of how she went to the Care Clinic, looking for assistance as she raised her then three-year-old daughter as a single mother. “The Care Clinic helped me out a lot. They helped me out to be a great mom. They taught me love and caring and how to be a better person. Just being there through a tough time really helped me out.”

Linda Johnson, bookkeeper for the Care Clinic, offered a reflection on the ministry of the Care Clinic over her 21 years of working for the organization and was honored with flowers and a service award after her remarks.

Gostomski asked banquet attendees to prayerfully consider what they could give to support the Care Clinic. Guests were also able to write down any prayer intentions that they wanted to share and have prayed for by Care Clinic staff.

At the end of the event, Fr. Sebastian Oppong, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua in Gwinn and St. Joseph in Northland, offered a closing prayer for the Care Clinic and all attendees of the banquet. “I thank God for the gift of the Care Clinic and all the loving and dedicated staff and volunteers. The Care Clinic helps the world to see through the divine lens: every life matters,” said Fr. Oppong. “It shines a light of love upon everyone they meet. All who seek their help find a new sense of peace and meaning to life. They stand for life and love for humanity. God bless you for saving the future.”

If you or someone you know is facing an unplanned pregnancy or needs material and emotional support on the journey of parenthood, the Care Clinic offers its services at no charge to clients. Visit www.careclinicmqt.org to learn more about their services and locations in the Western Upper Peninsula. To support the Care Clinic financially, visit www.myegiving.com/app/giving/preg2823334.