Each year in the United States, the second Sunday in May is dedicated to a very special woman in our lives: mom. Mother’s Day serves as an annual moment to celebrate all that mothers do for families and to take a pause to appreciate the mother figures in our lives.

At Shutterfly, our purpose is to make life’s experiences unforgettable.  And we know that not all moms have the same kinds of opportunities to celebrate – and be celebrated – on this special day. That’s why, this year, we teamed up with our nonprofit partner, Covenant House, an organization that provides housing and supportive services to youth facing homelessness, to recognize and honor the mothers and expecting moms facing homelessness in our communities.

From Alaska and Louisiana to New York and New Jersey, we deployed Lifetouch photographers to take portraits of expecting moms, and moms with their children, at Covenant House sites. Our Lifetouch photographers spent the day capturing beautiful moments for more than 30 young moms and their children to preserve and cherish for years to come. And as these families transition into more permanent housing, they’ll have these important keepsakes – including digital and physical prints, and customized Shutterfly products – to make their homes feel like… home.

About 44% of young women, ages 18-25, who face homelessness report being a parent or pregnant. Covenant House offers a host of wraparound services that both respond to these moms’ immediate needs and support them while they work on acquiring skills and knowledge to build a stable life for themselves and their children.

Through Shutterfly’s Open Door Project, we are on a mission to make all young people facing homelessness feel safe, worthy, and included in life’s most memorable moments. Through volunteerism, grants, community and customer activations, we’re excited to help amplify the tremendous work that Covenant House does to support youth in accessing services, education, work, and stable housing.

You can learn more about the Open Door Project here.