Local Church Hosting Baby Bottle Drive

The Knights of Columbus Council at St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church hosting a baby bottle drive this week to raise funds for the Cookeville Pregnancy Clinic.

Grand Knight Mike Lambert said the knights host the drive annually as part of their mission to help charities and organizations. Lambert said the drive raises funds so the pregnancy clinic can buy the necessary supplies to operate.

“A number of our knights will stand out after the mass and pass out baby bottles to any of the parishioners who would like to take one,” Lambert said. “We just ask that they take them home and fill them with spare change, or make check out, or cash. However, they want to do it and bring it back when they come back for the following week.”

Lambert said this year’s goal is to raise $8,000 for the pregnancy clinic. Lambert said the drive will last through Saturday.

“It’s something we feel as knights that is a worthwhile charitable thing that we do,” Lambert said. “We are very happy to partner with the Cookeville Pregnancy Center.”

Cookeville Pregnancy Clinic Assistant Director Lisa Reeves said the main struggle single mothers run into with pregnancy is financial hardship.

“Often it is financial struggles that are the most overwhelming for people when they are facing a pregnancy,” Reeves said. “They just simply don’t feel like they have the resources to be able to adequately care for a baby.”

Reeves said the drive has been a big help to the clinic. Reeves said the funds from the drive also help with the Thrive Parent Education Program.