In a continued effort to highlight charitable organizations making a difference in the lives of Santa RosaCounty citizens, the Santa Rosa Press Gazette next brings an organization for pregnant women who need help to the spotlight. The PregnancyResourceCenter provides pregnancy tests, counseling, maternity clothes, formula, diapers and more. The PRC also provides counseling for those who have had abortions. In 2014, the PRC of Milton served 108 new clients and 63 carryovers from the previous year. They also gave 115 pregnancy tests, and found 102 positive results, 12 negative, and one inconclusive. PRC is not a medical facility so they only provide the tests for the girls to take themselves.
Kristin Kennington, executive director at the PRC, said women who come to the PRC for help do not get food or diapers without some work on their own. Kennington said clients earn “baby bucks” by going through various classes the PRC offers and they can then spend in the organization’s store. Classes include prenatal care, parenting, Bible studies, and more. She said they also invite guest speakers for the Thursday evening classes. “We had a nutritionist from the Extension office at a class recently,” she said. For the Thursday classes, Kennington said women can bring their babies up to nine months of age and encourage fathers to participate. Fathers attending classes can earn double the baby bucks, she said.
“We start with early prenatal. (We teach) what’s going on with baby, development in the womb, accidents and illness.” The PRC also teaches about shaken baby syndrome, proper car seats, safe sleep, bonding methods, communication, and infant massage. While the center focuses on prenatal and infancy stages, Kennington said the they instruct on child development up to 12 years old.
Joni Spence is a volunteer at the PRC, but she started as a client coming in for abortion counseling. Spence said Diane Branch started the abortion recovery ministry at the PRC and she attended Branch’s first class.
Spence said she had two abortions when she was in her 20s. “I was not a member of the church then. It was the 60s and 70s, free love.” Spence said abortion was legal so she and her peers thought it was ok. “I didn’t realize the mental and physical consequences. I was told it makes everything all right and all your problems would be solved.”
It wasn’t until she was 50 years old, Spence said, she came back to the church. “I know I’m forgiven. I thought I was healed. I had mental baggage.” She said she didn’t realize what she still held on to until taking Branch’s class at the PRC. Now Spence says, “I can admit I’ve had abortions. I feel a great amount of relief. I feel forgiven and healed and desire to help others feel healed.”
Spence noted the class is a Bible study. “We do it with love in a comfortable setting…(We are) not judging. We don’t point fingers…It teaches self worth and reinforces forgiveness. It releases anger, draws that out…It gives women closure.”
Kennington said, “It’s so humbling, when I see volunteers show up. Because they love the girls, they want to be here to serve. It’s so humbling to serve with them, and it’s an opportunity to meet the girls where they are.” The Pregnancy Resource Center of Milton is located at 5736 Stewart Street. They can be reached by phone or email at 983-2730, and info@prcofmilton.org. Their website is www.prcofmilton.org, which also contains a contact form.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Pregnancy Resource Center offers hope and help