Pregnancy Care Center calls on public for help
24-hour hotline receives calls for help
Wanda English Burnett - Editor

This time of year the birth of a child brings thoughts of peace on earth and goodwill to men. The awesome story of the birth of the Christ child is played out in pageants and sang about in cantatas throughout the county.

As the Bible story goes, Mary was given quite a shock when she heard the news and went to seek solace from her cousin, Elizabeth.

Although there is no comparison to the immaculate conception of the birth of Jesus - some women today face initial shock just the same and wonder where to turn. Some can turn to family members, others have to seek guidance from elsewhere. That's where the Pregnancy Care Center comes in.

The Pregnancy Care Center, a group that serves Ripley, Dearborn, Ohio, Switzerland and Franklin counties, reaches out to all women who are faced with an unplanned pregnancy.

A 24-hour hotline 537-HELP (4357), has someone available always to hear the needs of women and to refer them to community agencies giving several options. They can also call toll-free 1-877-884-1378.

Sometimes the financial burden of having a child is overwhelming to new parents. The Pregnancy Care Center through donations has been able to provide clothing for mothers and their babies, furniture, diapers, formula, blankets, bottles as well as other needed items.

This group also touts the old-fashioned idea of abstinence. Abstinence really does work, they tell students in area schools when they offer their program to youth getting ready to make choices in life. "Over the years we saw a need to act proactively as well as reactively and speak to our youth about making wise choices so they can avoid unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases," noted Kim Maloy, director of the center.

Some feedback from students after hearing the program has been, "I'm very glad you visited our school and now all of us can make very educated decisions and feel confident about them," wrote a 13-year old male. Another response was, "Out of all the speakers we have had you are the one that has made a difference in my life. Because of what you said I am choosing abstinence," wrote a seventh-grade female.

The Pregnancy Care Center reaches out to people at the point of their need. One couple came to the center for help because they had lost everything in a fire. They were helped with a crib, clothes, blankets, bottles, diapers and more. "We were able to help because loving people had donated their gently used items," noted Maloy.

Scared young girls make the call to the center and receive help. Parents, who are reeling from the initial shock of their teenager's unplanned pregnancy, can come to the center and find caring people to help them through the situation. There are so many stories of those who have been helped through the generosity of others with the Pregnancy Care Center being the distributing house.

WHERE IS THE CENTER LOCATED?

That's a problem, according to Maloy. "One of the most common reasons people do not follow through to seek help is that it is too hard to get it. Too many people in our community don't even know the center exists," she said. She continued by saying the communities have grown and the Pregnancy Care Center needs to grow to meet that demand. "We need a larger, more accessible building in order to have the impact we feel God wants us to have." They are presently located at 424 Walnut Street, Lawrenceburg.

Maloy said they are looking at a couple of locations that are more accessible and bigger. One is on Ridge Avenue in Lawrenceburg, and one in Greendale.

Expanding the facility would help those at the Pregnancy Care Center realize their dream of having a permanent home where they can implement a number of programs to help others. Some of those goals include a program Earn While You Learn, which will provide parenting classes, life skills classes, car safety classes, basic CPR classes and more.

Those taking part in the classes will earn Baby Bucks which will enable them to purchase needed items. "They will earn what they receive from us and learn along the way thus allowing them to break the cycle too many are caught in. This program will require more space than we currently have as we will need a meeting room for the classes and more storage area," Maloy said.

HOW CAN I BECOME INVOLVED?

Maloy noted that volunteers are needed as well as donations. Donations can be in the form of gently used baby and children's clothing (newborn to 2T) and furniture etc. An organization - even a Sunday school class - could take on a project of giving disposable diapers and baby items such as bottles, and anything needed to care for an infant. Those wanting to give a monetary gift are welcome to do so in a variety of ways. They can make a one time gift, monthly pledge, earmark money given for a new building, or honor a loved one by making a donation in their name. Donations made to the non-profit organization are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

"If you cannot make a financial gift but would like to be involved
maybe you could be a volunteer," noted Maloy. You can contact her at 537-4357 or toll-free at 1-877-884-1378. You can directly mail monetary donations to the Pregnancy Care Center, 424 Walnut Street, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025.

The agency, which has been in operation for more than eight years, hopes to expand and be around for a lot longer to reach out to new mothers in need.