At APO, we believe that some of the most important moments in life happen when we simply sit together, sharing stories, laughter, struggles and hope. Come Sit With Us is an evening created to celebrate that kind of community.
This year, we are honored to welcome bestselling author, podcaster and speaker Melanie Shankle. Known for her humor, honesty, and heartfelt storytelling, Melanie will share reflections on motherhood, friendship, and why the small things matter – the everyday moments that shape our lives and the relationships that sustain us.
We’re thrilled to announce that her daughter, speaker and author Caroline Shanklewill be joining her!
Whether you’re a mother, mentor, friend, or simply someone who values meaningful connection, this will be an evening that encourages you and lifts your spirits.
We hope you’ll gather your friends and come sit with us.
Supporting Our Mission All proceeds from this event will support the work of Aggieland Pregnancy Outreach, helping fund the many ways we show up for pregnant and parenting families- and their children- in our community through our programs and services.
Door prizes will be awarded at the end of the evening, including a special item from David Gardner’s Jewelers.
About Melanie Shankle:
Melanie Shankle is a four-time New York Times bestselling author, speaker, and co-host of the Big Boo podcast.
She is the author of multiple funny, heartwarming memoirs about friendship, motherhood, marriage, and life, including Nobody’s Cuter Than You, Church of the Small Things, and On the Bright Side.
Her newest book, Here Be Dragons, was released in February 2025 and debuted on the New York Times bestseller list.
Melanie is a 1993 graduate of Texas A&M. She lives in San Antonio, Texas with her husband, Perry.
About Caroline Shankle:
Caroline Shankle is a 2025 graduate of Texas A&M and is currently pursuing a master’s degree.
She is the author of the bestselling devotional for young women entitled The Lion and The Bear: A 100 Day Guide for Facing Your Giants.
Caroline hopes to write more books and continue to travel and speak to young women about the battles they face.
Absolutely the best and most supportive agency ever! Both of our children are APO kids and they're still there for us during the teenage years! What I truly love about this organization is they are truly there for the birth families and a lot of young mothers that choose to parent; they give them so much support.
APO helped through the hardest thing I'll probably ever have to go through! The lady I worked with was so much help. They helped me with a lot, from counseling to helping financially. From phones calls, text, emails, and meetings, they always check up on you to make sure things are going ok. They always offer to come to you instead of going into the office. I will forever be grateful for their help. Absolutely loved APO!!!
Aggieland Pregnancy Outreach is a wonderful organization!! Our student group, Pro-Life Aggies, has babysat during and provided dinner for their Mama's Club in the past, and we've seen first-hand how caring they are toward these young mothers and their children. APO is doing such great things for mothers in College Station/Bryan!
Our hearts are full and our family is complete. APO truly has the best interest of the children at heart. They guideded us and the birth mom step by step trough a stressful and emotional process. They were always available when we had questions or concerns. We appreciate that they take the time to build a one on one relationship with the adopting families and with the birth moms.
I started volunteering at Aggieland Pregnancy Outreach the fall of my freshman year of college. APO has many wonderful programs for those needing support during/post pregnancies. I am blessed to volunteer with such a compassionate organization, and watch many lives be touched. God is truly working through APO!
I was going through a very tough time, and this organization held my hand the whole way. I experienced working with Karla, who by the way is sweet as ever! When I came home from the hospital from having my baby, I was really depressed. I was refusing to talk to anyone because I had just given my baby boy up for adoption. Karla kept reaching out to me until I was ready to talk about it. Without APO I don't know where I would be today. I am very grateful for having them when I was at my lowest, and I will always remember the great staff.
My family came to this organization during a painful time when we had a hole in our heart. We were seeking out different organization and doing research to find our next step. We came to APO just to listen and learn. It didn't take long before we knew this was the perfect place for us. They are more than just a resource for family with unplanned pregnancy and for families seeking adoptions. They are a home for the hurting that provides a family no matter what caused the pain. The members of the staff soon turn into a brothers/sisters or uncles/aunts. They can’t fix your pain, but they vow to walk with you in it. Through their experience, love, wisdom and trust, you soon find that your path you’re on seems a little less lonely because they are with you and it makes a worlds different!
Great staff and family friendly atmosphere! The people involved truly want to serve and care deeply about the young mothers and children they are able to work with. Awesome opportunity for fellowship and community!
Amazing! My wife and I adopted both of our children through APO. The staff at APO does an amazing job helping birth parents and adoptive families through one of the most difficult and happiest times of their lives. They show kindness and compassion to everyone they work with and are both professional and loving at the same time. We love sharing our kids adoption stories, and APO is a huge part of both. We have referred several friends to APO and will continue to do so.
APO has been such an incredible blessing to us and to our community! We joined the APO family in June of 2011, when we attended an adoption seminar. We had no idea the amount of support and priceless friendships that we would receive....and most importantly our precious son!! The amount of love and compassion this ministry gives to our community is irreplaceable and I have and will continue to recommend them to anyone looking to adopt, volunteer, or seeking help with an unplanned pregnancy.
Aggieland Pregnancy Outreach is an incredible resource that the Bryan/College Station area has to offer for unplanned pregnancies. They provide a variety of services for all stages of pregnancy. Staff is considerate, well trained, non-judgmental, and kind.
What a great organization! I cannot say enough about the friendliness of the staff. Their genuine concern for the young families is evident in everything they do. I love volunteering there.
We went through the process of adoption through Aggieland Pregnancy Outreach (APO) and couldn't me more pleased. The adoption process has its beautiful and awkward moments, and APO helped make it comfortable and smooth. They are an extension of our family now and we are so blessed and grateful for them being a huge part in taking us from a family of three to a family of four! Thanks and God Bless You Aggieland Pregnancy Outreach!
Our connection to APO is an outer circle at best. We are the parents of someone who gave their child up for adoption. I thought my husband and I would have very little interaction with the adoption agency, but I was wrong. This agency's representative has gone above and beyond the paperwork and legalities. She has given godly advice both before the baby was born and continuing long after the adoption was finalized. I know if I called her today she would welcome my call and take the time to address my concerns with prayer and love.
My name is Cristina and I attended Mama’s club back in 2012/2013 while being pregnant with my second child at only 16 years old. To say I was lost is an understatement. This organization helped me in so many ways, from being a teen mom to my salvation with Christ. I owe it to you guys. Here was where I accepted Jesus Christ and was saved You saved me in ways I can’t even describe. The leaders you have serving the lord and loving on these girls and babies are so amazing!!!!! When I have those struggle moments and think wow, like how did I get past those times? And it was because of loving hearts like yours that really made an impact in our lives. I say all of that to say, I’m now almost 30 years old, with 4 children (now in their teen years) and am about to be baptized this Sunday. Thank you for everything you have done for me and my family and what you will continue to do for our communities by serving the lord with BIG hearts! Thank you thank you thank you!!!!
Aggieland Pregnancy Outreach is a nonprofit organization that provides a safe and loving environment for teen moms, birth mothers, and adoptive parents. My time volunteering as a mentor for MAMA CLUB, a weekly program for teen mothers and fathers, was such an amazing experience. I enjoyed leading small groups with the young mothers by being able to provide encouragement , teaching them basic sign language for them to share with their children, and most importantly providing a listening ear. Ending the night with an enjoyable time with the mothers and their children. To see the mothers and their childs' growth over the following years makes me know the support they received was a true blessing. For the birth mothers, the guidance they received from the APO staff brought feelings of joy to my heart. So much compassion was given to each. The staff consisted of amazing counselors who reassured them that they had options available, depending on their life circumstances. To know parents and to see the journey they have gone through utilizing the APO adoption process was another example of pure joy! I am excited to get back to volunteering for such an awesome organization soon.
It’s hard to put into words how you feel about an organization that guided our way as God’s redeeming plan unfolded in our lives, and we finally became parents. It often still leaves me speechless. We are so thankful for APO and all they have done for our family. Our gratitude is endless and they will forever hold space in our hearts. Thanks again, APO!
I am a volunteer at APO. I am constantly amazed at the work they do there helping young people when they are faced with unplanned pregnancy. From counseling and classes to adoption options to providing a “boutique” where they can get things for their baby, APO treats everyone who comes through their doors with love and respect. It is truly an incredible program that I am proud to be a small part of!
Aggieland Pregnancy Outreach walked alongside us throughout our entire adoption journey from the moment we made the decision, to the call saying a baby had been born, navigating the hospital experience until our adoption was finalized. We are so grateful for their support and helping us to bring a son into our home!
I was only 17 years old with no means or idea on how to raise a child. Aggieland Outreach talked with me about my options and walked me through the entire adoption process. It was a very overwhelming time in my life and with their help I was able to give my daughter the life I felt she deserved. If it hadn't been for APO I have no idea where my life would have ended up, I am grateful everyday for their kind caring assistance in a very dark time for me.
I volunteer at APO Wednesdays and Fridays. I have the opportunity to help sort donations and package items for mothers in need. We’re doing a lot each week, but there’s always more to be done. The amount of diapers needed to be packaged for distribution to the mothers indicates how useful this is to our community. There’s plenty of work to do each week, and I love the privilege of helping these women and this nonprofit.
APO is a wonderful organization! They are truly able to support and meet the emotional, physical, and spiritual needs of young pregnant women. They are able to help a mom consider all of her options and make the best plans for her baby and herself. Then, they continue to support the mom and baby after the birth. I have had the honor of volunteering at APO as part of a support group and have seen the good that they do in people's lives. As a supporter of single, parenting moms and a licensed Adoption Agency, they are able to promote the health and well-being of all the moms, babies, and families they serve. I highly recommend all of their services.
I know several families who have been greatly and joyfully impacted by the work of Aggieland Pregnancy Outreach. The time and commitment they give to adoptive families is a true testament of the love they have for each person they serve. From the initial meeting to the precious gift of adoption to the follow up they give to new families- it is all orchestrated by God and delivered through the committed team members of this amazing organization. The compassion and support their team gives to young Moms who are choosing adoption for their baby or seeking to create a positive life for themselves and their baby is a sight to see. Aggieland Pregnancy Outreach meets these Moms where they are and teaches them coping skills and life skills that give them a hopeful beginning. It is a blessing to watch the numerous lives they touch each and every day. I can’t think of a more meaningful organization to support!
Aggieland Pregnancy Outreach gave me the opportunity to help young girls from my community. APO sponsored The Mama Club, a mentoring program for young teen moms and pregnant teens. This wonderful organization allowed me to be blessed by the young girls each week as I listened to them, their stories , their fears and struggles. I was blessed by the opportunity to give back to them through listening, talking and sharing my testimony.
Volunteering at Aggieland Pregnancy Outreach has been one of my biggest blessings. This organization is constantly growing and providing resources for those in need. They foster a familial, welcoming, and encouraging environment for everyone who walks in the door. Love APO!
As a volunteer at APO, I get to see first hand the impact we have on the community around us and it is truly inspiring! I help babysit while APO staff feeds teen parents and helps support them by teaching them necessary life skills. Last semester I got to form a relationship with one of the babies in the nursery and seeing him go from not letting anyone hold him to a happy baby was so rewarding and fulfilling. I can also tell that the moms are so grateful and form such great relationships with the other moms and volunteers!
There are no words to describe APO. We adopted our son 2.5 years ago and they still are an active part of our lives! Anytime we need a listening ear or encouragement or our son's birth family needs counseling they are there instantaneously. We researched dozens of agencies before deciding to go with APO. We chose them because of the commitment they make to the birth family and the ethics they stand by. We have experienced APO in several different situations/scenarios and every time they put the child and birth family first. From 1am food runs waiting on a baby to arrive to 5am phone calls when an urgent situation presents itself they were by our side every step of the way and STILL are.
