Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Celebrates Two Years of “Walking With Moms in Need” Ministry Serving Mercer County Families
By Father Andrew Boyd05/27/2026
MERCER, PA — Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Mercer is celebrating the two-year anniversary of its Walking With Moms in Need ministry, originally launched on May 25, 2024, to accompany pregnant women, mothers, and families throughout Mercer County with compassion, practical assistance, and ongoing support.
Since its founding, the ministry has provided assistance to families more than 187 times throughout Mercer County through the generosity of parishioners, volunteers, community supporters, the Catholic Foundation of Northwest Pennsylvania, and assistance from the Rural Ministry Impact Fund grant program. Through its Caring Closet outreach, Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish has provided diapers, wipes, clothing, toys, baby equipment, referrals, emotional support, and other essential resources to mothers and families facing difficult circumstances. Stocked through donations from the community and ongoing outreach support, the Caring Closet has become an important source of practical assistance for families throughout Mercer County.
What began as a parish effort rooted in the call of the Gospel to support mothers in need has continued to grow through countless hours of volunteer service and the generous support of the local community.
“For the past two years, this ministry has quietly worked to ensure that mothers and families in Mercer County know they are not alone,” said Barb Dumais, Director of Social Outreach at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish. “Our mission has always been to walk alongside mothers with dignity, compassion, practical support, and love during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.”
The parish expressed deep gratitude to the many volunteers, donors, and supporters who have helped sustain the ministry since its founding.
The parish also expressed its appreciation for the growing number of organizations throughout Mercer County working to support mothers and families in need, including Prince of Peace Center in Farrel and its recently launched Walking With Moms in Need chapter. Parish leaders noted that the increasing awareness and expansion of services within the county are encouraging signs for families seeking support and assistance.
“As awareness continues to grow regarding the needs of pregnant women and young families in Mercer County, we are encouraged to see additional efforts and organizations becoming involved in this important work,” said Dumais. “We look forward to sharing both the successes and lessons learned from our experience over the past two years as we continue working alongside other agencies and ministries serving mothers and families throughout our region.”
The parish emphasized that the needs within Mercer County remain significant and that continued cooperation and communication among community organizations will be essential in providing meaningful support to families.
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish’s Walking With Moms in Need ministry continues to accept donations of diapers, wipes, baby clothing, and other essential items, while also welcoming volunteers interested in assisting local families in need.
For more information about the ministry or ways to support the outreach, contact Barb Dumais, Director of Social Outreach for Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, at 724-907-7790 or by email at outreach@ihmercer.org. Additional parish information can be found at ihmercer.org/outreach.
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