The Pro-life movement is huge.
There are so many organizations, programs and ministries; sometimes it's hard to know where to start. The most important thing to realize is that the Pro-life movement embraces many political, religious, and educational groups, united in defending the dignity and right to life of every human person. United we stand!
Okay, so which Pro-life outreach will the Wash for Life benefit?
Our project will support Pregnancy Care Centers, or what are often called Crisis Pregnancy Centers, as well as other types of organizations that provide related services. Youth who hold the car washes will donate the money they raise to the center in their area.
Pregnancy Care Centers have two main outreach initiatives. The first is to support women who have unplanned pregnancies, by encouraging them to have their baby and by providing for practical needs to help them care for their baby. The other main initiative is counseling and supporting women who have already had an abortion.
There are many ways these centers work with women to encourage and assist them in having their baby. They offer many services depending on the woman's situation, and the individual center's resources. Here are some services most centers offer:
- Free pregnancy tests and pregnancy information
- Information about abortion, including procedures and risks (these centers however never do referrals to abortionists)
- Medical services, pregnancy confirmation, early ultrasounds
- Confidential pregnancy options, including adoption
- Sometimes they will help set up housing, work opportunities, or employment education programs
- And often much more...
Maternity homes provide a safe and supportive place for a woman to live while she is pregnant, and then after her baby is born until they have a place to go. A maternity home is often an extention is a PCC's services.
After-abortion Care Centers focus on helping women deal with the emotional strain of pain and guilt after they have had an abortion. They are places of spiritual and psychological healing. A good example is the National Office of Post-Abortion Reconciliation and Healing at www.noparh.org. Another is the Elliot Institute, which has links and information to many of these groups. Check it out at www.afterabortion.org
A great example of a center that can offer all these resources is the AAA Women's Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee: www.aaawomen.org.