Pregnancy Care Center celebrating 10 years, new site

By Patricia Morrison, News Editor

January 08, 2009 11:14 pm

— From downtown Washington, to a house on the west side of town, to space in a church on the south side, the Pregnancy Care Center has changed locations three times in its 10 years of existence, but not its mission.
The center offers guidance and help to pregnant women and also helps them after the baby arrives and with any decisions they may make.
The center was started 10 years ago by Daviess-Martin County Right to Life as an alternative for those considering abortion. Center Director Micki McCullough said the center doesn’t just counsel women during the pregnancy but sees them through the early years of parenthood with parenting classes, assistance with baby clothing and residential care assistance.
The center offers free maternity and baby clothes up to size 2 toddler. New mothers can also “purchase” new or gently used items and diapers with “mommy money,” which is earned by attending educational classes from the first trimester through birth and parenting classes after the baby is born.
While the house on W. Walnut Street was “homey,” according to McCullough, the space at Grace Baptist Church, 705 Troy Road, is “heaven-sent.”
“I loved the house, it was so homey there,” she said. “And then this came up and it’s been such a difference.”
The new center has a large intake room, a large classroom, kitchen, office and room for the cribs, car seats and other items that can help make life a little easier for a new mother.
Right To Life has also benefited as they had a corner desk at the old house and know has its own private entrance and a private office.
In 2007, 950 people visited the center, according to the daily log. In 2008 more than 1,500 were served, McCullough said.
Those who don’t feel they can keep their baby or feel the baby would be better off in a different home are given advice about adoption services.
“We let them know we’re here,” McCullough said. “We help them all we can.”
Those who have decided to opt for abortion are offered a free ultrasound by local obstetricians. For those who still choose abortion, the center offers counseling for both women and men suffering from post-abortion syndrome.
They also offer free pregnancy testing, free counseling, information on pregnancy options and health and assistance referrals.
The center started in a downtown store front and then moved to a house on W. Walnut Street. This year the opportunity came to expand when Grace Baptist’s day care closed.
“Our president, Jennifer Davis, had a vision for our new center, which was presented to Pastor Louis Showers,” McCullough said. “He and the congregation of Grace Baptist voted unanimously to rent the former day care to the Pregnancy Care Center and Right To Life.
“Right To Life now has its own private office and entrance, which is truly a wonderful and miraculous blessing from the hand of God.”
A non-profit can’t pay a set rent to another non-profit, McCullough said, so a donation is given to the church. The savings has allowed the center to hire two part-time assistants.
While an open house is planned for Saturday to celebrate its 10 years of existence, a dinner in December proved a big surprise for two people considered the “birth mother and father” of the Pregnancy Care Center. Donna and Garland Gentry were honored for their 10 years of love and tireless service to the Pregnancy Care Center.
The honor was a complete surprise for Donna who thought that Garland was going to be recognized for his contributions. Garland was in the dark about the whole thing. Each was presented with a plaque recognizing their hard work and dedication.
An open house is set from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Grace Baptist Church, in celebration of the 10th anniversary and the new location. The public is welcome.
The Pregnancy Care Center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and is open to Spanish-speaking clients from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday when an interpreter offers her services.

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