Inside the front doors of St. Francis of Assisi parish in Greenlawn in Long Island, N.Y., is a white baby crib. This crib and the cabinet next to it contain diapers, sheets, blankets and comforter sets --- things needed for newborns.

Visitors may think the crib is part of a special parish program, but parishioners know differently. The crib is a mainstay of their St. Francis of Assisi Baby Corner, a ministry devoted year-round to helping new mothers in dire need get essentials for their babies.

"This is our way of helping God's precious babies prayerfully and lovingly," says Ann Marie Cesare. She first proposed the baby corner to her pastor, Msgr. Patrick Armshaw, expressing her strong belief that "part of preventing abortions is letting moms know there is assistance for them."

With the pastor's immediate and strong support, the baby corner was set up on Divine Mercy Sunday, 2002, and blessed by the parish priests.

"With the continuous generosity of members of our parish ... we have now helped 110 moms" since the baby ministry began, Anne Marie said.

Many families are referred by the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Msgr. Armshaw, the society's spiritual advisor for the Rockville Centre Diocese, calls the baby corner ministry and its many volunteers "a wonderful expression of real stewardship."

Cesare knows many heartwarming stories of the mothers helped by her parish. "One young woman went into labor and had nothing for her baby," she said. "She said she called many parishes" that had no assistance programs, "then she found out about us. We put together a layette for her. ... This was help she really needed" and was grateful for it.

Other times the parish provided new mothers with slippers and a robe, gas money to get the baby home and a cooked meal upon arrival home.

"Very recently we got a call about a mother with a 4-day-old baby both abandoned by her boyfriend," Cesare said. "A family took her in temporarily until her own family who lived down south could help her."

Cesare credits the baby corner ministry with saving "at least four babies" whose mothers were desperate enough to consider abortion. "With great joy we have held these babies," she said.

If the ministry hears of a mother coming out of a shelter and going to an empty apartment, "we put the word out for her needs," Cesare explained. "The very next day, folks are bringing in new dishes, pots and pans, towels, sheets, blanks, etc., for these families."

The work of helping young mothers in need is non-stop, acknowledges Cesare, whose husband Sam is "a very big part of it." There is a "baby corner room" in their home, a yard sale held at the home to raise funds and an annual diaper drive in Lent.

A parish event each October is a "Respect Life Baby Shower." Hospitality is non-stop. Seventh graders earn credit for confirmation preparation by setting up tables and helping seniors with special needs. Parish youth and religious education students help too. Some even provide musical entertainment.

"It's amazing how the donations come in," Cesare commented, adding that she is in contact with all the parishes in the diocese. Many of them refer mothers who really need help to the baby corner ministry.

Antoinette Bosco is an author and columnist with Catholic News Service.