One repeated complaint I hear from people who criticize the Pro-Life movement is that Pro-Lifers don’t care about the Moms and babies after the babies are born. I have to say that is not true. Pro-lifers are active in many ways: volunteering at pregnancy centers, adopting children/helping those families or adoptions agencies, fostering children/helping those families or foster care organizations, making donations/volunteering at various organizations that help families, and much more.
I have chosen to volunteer at our local pregnancy center, West Pasco Wellness and Pregnancy Center. The center is non-profit and depends on monetary donations to operate. Money is raised in various ways: Champions of Life Banquet: November 7, 2019, small fundraisers throughout the year, Baby Bottle Coin Collections and individual/corporate donations. There’s a small staff (mostly part-time) and a number of volunteers. The center is always in needs of volunteers. So if you would like to volunteer please contact the center. If you would like to take a tour of the center call ahead for an appointment.
All of the services that the center offer are free to the clients. Among the services are pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, parenting classes, life skill classes, support groups, resources and referrals for other services and counseling. Fathers are allowed to come to the classes and counseling too.
The clients, both Mom and Dad, earn points for attending parenting classes and life skill classes. They spend their points in the Blessing Boutique. All items in the boutique are new and have been donated by individuals, companies, civic organizations and churches. Among the items in the boutique are clothes (NB through 12 months), diapers, wipes, baby toiletries, blankets, hooded towels, diaper bags, bibs, shoes and socks, and much more. The boutique does carry a few larger items but we are limited in numbers due to the size of our facility.
The following items are in short supply at this time. We accept only new items. If you can donate one or more items please drop them off at the center or contact me. If you live outside our area please contact your local pregnancy center and see what they need. Most pregnancy centers depend heavily on donations and are greatly appreciative of them.
- baby shampoo
- baby lotion
- baby powder
- baby wash
- newborn and size 3 diapers
- boy themed baby bottles
- bibs
- teething rings
- rattles
- pacifiers
- hooded towels/wash cloths
- sleepers for infant boys and girls
The “motto” for the center is: “Making a Difference for the One”
The Starfish Parable by Loren Eiseley
One day, an old man was walking along a beach that was littered with thousands of starfish that had been washed ashore by the high tide. As he walked he came upon a young boy who was eagerly throwing the starfish back into the ocean, one by one.
Puzzled, the man looked at the boy and asked what he was doing. Without looking up from his task, the boy simply replied, “I’m saving these starfish, Sir”.
The old man chuckled aloud, “Son, there are thousands of starfish and only one of you. What difference can you make?”
The boy picked up a starfish, gently tossed it into the water and turning to the man, said, “I made a difference to that one!”
– – Carolyn M
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