Standing in a Miracle: Our Easter at the Madonna Renewal Center

We Thought We Were Giving Easter Baskets. Instead, We Received a Miracle.

This past weekend wasn’t just beautiful—it was sacred.

It was Easter weekend, a time of resurrection and hope. But for me, and for Mother in Me, it became something deeper. It became a chance to stop talking about community and start pouring into it—freely, fearlessly, and without a single dollar raised.

We partnered with the Madonna Renewal Center in Freeport, IL—a transitional home for women with children, or those currently expecting. They offer 1–2 years of housing, stability, and life skills to mothers who are rebuilding everything from the ground up.

I first heard about this place while visiting a patient at work. Months later, I connected with one of the four nuns who run the program. I visited for a few hours with my son. And within minutes, I knew: I was meant to be here.

In my heart, I realized something I can’t unlearn:

The only way to truly grow is through generosity.

So I called my sister. I asked if she’d help me make Easter baskets for the women at the center. She said yes without hesitating.

Now, here’s the thing—Mother in Me is barely six months old. We haven’t raised a single dollar since launching. But my sister and I put money aside every week to buy what we thought these mothers would want for their children. Little by little, the baskets came together. And honestly? They turned out beautifully.

Easter weekend, we made the hour-and-a-half drive to Freeport. We didn’t know how the gifts would be received. Would they matter? Would they feel like charity or care?

When we arrived, we were greeted by a nun who looked like she could be my auntie—a small woman wrapped in royal blue from head to toe. Her name was Sister Nesta. She gave us a tour of what used to be an old schoolhouse, now transformed into something holy.

Eight women at a time live here with their children. Each floor has playrooms, kitchens, bedrooms, study areas, even a mini gym. And here’s what broke me open in the best way: this entire place was built on charity.

Not grants. Not government funding. Just people—many from Freeport, a community that technically rides the poverty line—giving what they could. And here’s the miracle within the miracle: the center opens its doors twice a week to the very same community, offering anything they might need from their thrift store, which also helps fund the center. They pour in. They pour back. It’s been running since 2018. And it’s thriving.

After the tour, we gave the baskets to the women. They were grateful—deeply so. But my sister and I noticed something else. A quiet sadness. A flicker of shame.

And my sister knows that feeling all too well.

Though she’s younger, we both experienced seasons of uncertainty as single mothers. That memory doesn’t live far from us. In that moment, our compassion didn't just feel tender—it felt urgent. We decided right there to support the Madonna Renewal Center not just with a basket, but with our time. Monthly.

As we drove away, tears filled my eyes. Because I realized we hadn’t just visited a nonprofit.

We had stood in a miracle.

So here’s my invitation to you, Mother in Me community:

Go see for yourself. Visit the Madonna Renewal Center. Give something—your time, your resources, your presence. But mostly, go because somewhere in the giving, you just might find yourself being rebuilt too.

With love,

Mother in Me