"Vote Pro-Life" yard signs dot the parish grounds at Holy Cross, Champaign. The signs are a volunteer project of the parish's pro-life committee. (Provided photo)

CHAMPAIGN — Amid all the name-calling of this year’s election season come yard signs in area neighborhoods that promote voting for a bunch of real babies.

“Vote Pro-Life” is the message of the signs, a project of pro-life committee volunteers at Holy Cross Parish in Champaign.

The professional signs, produced at a discounted cost by a parishioner who is a printer, depict unborn children at seven or eight weeks old. The signs are being distributed free of charge during office hours at the Holy Cross parish center, 405 West Clark Street, and may be available at church this weekend.

Some in the Champaign area are displaying the signs in their parked cars. (Provided photo)

But Renee Mullen, a committee volunteer who is helping with the project, says the professionally done posters are just one way to encourage votes for candidates who support and defend the dignity of all human life.

“Anyone can make a ‘Vote Pro-Life’ yard sign by simply buying a blank sign at any hardware store and writing a message in a permanent marker,” said Mullen, noting that’s how the local effort began before the generous, anonymous professional printer was found. Mullen added she would gladly email the images of the unborn child to those who want to print, laminate, and include them on their sign as well.

The committee at Holy Cross has also encouraged pro-life voting messages to be drawn in chalk on sidewalks and driveways — “Great for the kids to help out as well,” said Mullen — written in erasable marker on home or car windows, and shared via email and social media such as Facebook.

Some parishioners are propping the signs beneath their car windshields when they park, said Mullen.

While she knows “time is getting very tight now” with Election Day approaching on Tuesday, Mullen said the project is “in keeping with the teachings of our faith and following the directions given by our religious leaders, including the bishop and the pope, that all life should be valued.”

For more information, contact Mullen at (765) 237-7500 or reneemullen1@comcast.net.