Support is expected

Jennifer Kahlenberg started school Tuesday.

While not a momentous occasion for all, it is for 36-year-old

Kahlenberg -- two years ago, she never thought about higher education

or about her future. Two years ago, she used drugs and alcohol almost

every day.

Around the same time she decided to stop using drugs, Kahlenberg

found out she was pregnant. Knowing that she was not ready to raise a

child, she made the decision to give the baby up for adoption.

While working with Kinship Center -- an adoption services

organization -- Kahlenberg learned about Casa Teresa, an Orange

County organization that provides assistance to single, pregnant

women.

“It was the best thing that ever happened,” she said. “It was the

best move I ever made.”

Casa Teresa -- named for Mother Teresa, who believed in helping

everyone without prejudice -- has helped more than 2,000 people like

Kahlenberg since it opened its doors in 1976. This would not have

been possible if it weren’t for volunteers raising money and donating

their time.

Newport Beach resident Mary Frome has been involved with Casa

Teresa, which is now based in Orange, since it was founded. She

started the first fundraising guild for Casa Teresa, the Founders

Guild, in 1984. Two years later, a Central Guild was formed to do

more hands-on volunteer work.

“I do not believe in abortion, and this was an alternative for me

to help in that way,” Frome said. “Also, when you see the girls and

see the help they need ... I just sort of had a feel for that, that I

would like to help them.”

Frome is being honored for all her hard work with the organization

at an upcoming gala fundraising event Oct. 15 at Bower’s Museum in

Santa Ana.

“Mary is extremely dedicated and hard working,” said Lissa

Callahan, Casa Teresa’s executive director. “Every nonprofit, every

charity, needs a real strong supporter to not only give money, but to

get out there and work hard. She’s given her time and she’s just

truly motivated. We’re very grateful to her.”

Frome said volunteering is second nature for her. She said she has

always volunteered with various churches and at the schools her

children attended. She was a founding member of the Tustin Assistance

League and plans to volunteer for the Special Olympics.

Frome, a mother of seven and a grandmother of 18, said Casa Teresa

is a cause that remains close to her heart.

“Many of these girls are living out of their cars or are disowned

by their families, and they have really no place to go,” Frome said.

“The wonderful stories that come out and where they’ve progressed --

all because of Casa Teresa helping them. They’re just beautiful

stories.”

Casa Teresa now consists of three houses, and a fourth was

recently purchased, Callahan said. Hannah’s House, where Kahlenberg

lived, is for mothers who are giving up their babies for adoption.

The parenting house is for mothers who plan to keep their babies, and

the transition house is for mothers who need some extra help after

their babies are born.

“They’re such a huge part of my recovery,” Kahlenberg said of the

staff and volunteers at Casa Teresa. “I just needed a break, I just

needed to breathe, and I needed to put things in perspective. It gave

me that chance to sit down, breathe and restart my life.”

Kahlenberg said before she moved into Hannah’s House, she planned

to resume using drugs and alcohol once the baby was born. Instead,

she said, amazing things started happening. Through the counseling

she received while living in Hannah’s House and the wonderful people

she met, she realized her life needed to change -- and she began a

journey of full recovery.

Kahlenberg gave birth to her son in June. He was adopted, but it

was an open adoption, which means Kahlenberg is still in contact with

him and his family. She said she knows she made the right decision

and has no regrets.

Now Kahlenberg is going back to school with plans of becoming a

drug counselor, so she can help others the way she was helped.

“Some have just gone on to do wonderful things,” Frome said of

past residents. “That’s what keeps me going -- is just listening to

the stories.”

* LINDSAY SANDHAM is the news assistant. She can be reached at

(714) 966-4625 or [email protected].