A local nonprofit organization is open to give assistance and support to pregnant women and new mothers.
A New Beginning Crisis Pregnancy Center in Huntington offers help to women who think they are pregnant, are pregnant or have given birth within the last six months.
Christi Gibson, executive director, said there are no financial restrictions on who they can help. She said people can get help a number of ways through the center.
“We are a nonprofit organization that reaches out to women and children in the Tri-state area through peer counseling, parenting education, prenatal education, and also through material goods and supplies,” Gibson said. “But we are also a pro-life organization, where you can come and get free pregnancy tests, education on abortion, adoption and parenting.”
Gibson said the center has recently started a new program to help new moms get major items needed in caring for the child.
“We have what we call ‘Earn While You Learn’ that we just started, and I’m very excited about it,” Gibson said. “It’s for new moms particularly, and it’s really helpful. There are DVD classes and courses, starting with what happens in the first trimester, all the way through potty training your child.”
Gibson said the classes discuss how to bond with the child during pregnancy and after the baby is born, good nutrition, how to breast-feed, changes in the mother’s body, as well as changes in the baby.
“They watch the videos, do worksheets, homework, and as they do that they earn points to get cribs, strollers, bottles, diapers, maternity clothes, baby clothes,” Gibson said. “We have a huge Mommy and Me closet that has all kinds of items they can get. Babies are expensive. That’s one thing I have definitely learned since I have been down here.”
Gibson said after finding out they are pregnant, many women will ask things like, “where am I going to get clothes? Where am I going to get diapers?” She said participants learn things they might not have known before.
Gibson said the organization is under the authority of Fellowship Baptist Church, but are looking to become independent. She said it is financially supported by area churches, some of them who donate monthly, and some though the fundraiser Baby Bottle Blessings.
“Area churches take the baby bottles and they will have them for a month,” Gibson said, “and the congregation will fill them up with change or checks, cash, or whatever, and that’s what helps keep us funded throughout the year.”
Gibson is the only staff member of the center, but the center has several volunteers. Barb Hampton, 62 of Huntington, has been a volunteer for more than nine years.
“I’ve volunteered from the very day they opened the doors,” Hampton said.
Hampton said she loves what she does through the center and feels she has grown spiritually by helping the women who go there.
“Talking to the girls, getting to know them, getting to know their needs, their wants, and their desires, and helping them any way you can help them,” said Hampton about the reward she gets working at the center.
Hampton is very involved with the Earn While You Learn program. She said the reason the Mommy and Me closet started was because women were wanting abortions because they didn’t have the things they needed to support the baby.
Gibson said the center is also forming a support group beginning in January for mothers who may need to have adult interaction and advice.
Gibson said the center can always use help.
“We can use maternity clothes, baby clothes, and any kind of baby items are good,” Gibson said. “On top of that, we have had sororities do the baby bottle fundraisers. We’ve had groups that have done events where, to get into the events, you have to bring a baby item.”
Gibson said people can also help by coming in to help sort clothes.
The center is open from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. No appointment is needed for pregnancy tests.
Jennifer Chapman can be contacted at eastham1@marshall.edu.
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