Over the next few months, Biking for Babies will highlight our pregnancy resource center partners. If you are in close proximity to a center, we invite you to volunteer your time or gifts, to join them on the front line of the pro-life movement, to save lives. If you know someone who could benefit from the resources and support of this center, forward this blog post to them. God bless!
SouthWest Options for Women/Minnetonka Life-Care Center is a pregnancy resource center in Hopkins, MN. Cyndie, the center’s Executive Director, shares the following testimonials; note that names and circumstances in these stories have been changed to protect the privacy of the client:
Many women have attested to the positive and even “life changing” impact our programs have had on their future and that of their children. Below is a client testimonial (even though she has given written permission to use her story, names and certain details have been changed to protect her identity).
Thank you for helping! I was pregnant, homeless, and without pre-natal care when a friend recommended I call SouthWest Options for Women (SWOW). Bless you for all the baby items and resources! I now have a place to live, prenatal care, and baby supplies. Thanks for the moral support too! \\ K.M.
SWOW helped my boyfriend and me with the difficult decision of adoption. Your staff referred us to the right adoption agency for our needs. We learned about Open Adoption. I never knew I could still be a part of my child’s life after adoption. Thank you for the valuable guidance. Our child was adopted by a wonderful couple that we picked ourselves. It was a very emotional process, but I feel joy for having chosen what was right for us and for our baby. \\ A.J. & T.K.
Thank you for the information I received while having a pregnancy test at your center. I appreciate your staff for really listening to me and for not judging me. I felt they really cared about me and my situation. Thank you! \\ S.
Anna is a young single mother who came to our center for a pregnancy test. The result was positive. She was very upset and uncertain about what to do. Anna’s boyfriend had recently broken off their relationship and she confided to our advocate that she was now in an emotional and financial crisis. She already had a six-month-old child and felt abortion was her only option. She was feeling overwhelmed by her responsibilities. Anna told our staff she felt alone and uncared for. Our staff was able to connect her to many support programs and offered help with clothes, food, gas vouchers, rental assistance, and a referral to a Christmas gift program. She was so amazed that complete strangers were willing to help her during her time of crisis. Because Anna felt more cared for and supported she decided to continue her pregnancy. *****
“When I first found out I was pregnant, I was paralyzed with fear and uncertainty. My boyfriend lived out of state and I had no family in Minnesota. I didn’t know how I was going to survive what I assumed would be a devastating hardship. I was angry with everyone, but mostly at myself. I felt certain I couldn’t handle being a parent—let alone a single parent! Abortion loomed over me as if it were my only answer. That’s when a pregnant friend told me about a program she joined at SouthWest Options for Women. It’s been a year since I walked through your doors and now I have something to say: Thank you! Words cannot express my happiness when I hold my baby. I feel like I’m holding a piece of heaven! Being a mother is a blessing—not a curse. I never knew how much a person could love—until I held my child. When I cry, my tears are an expression of joy. I am filled with contentment and bliss. There are no problems greater than the love I have for my son! I would suffer any humiliation, poverty, or hardship to be his mother all over again. Thank you for being a place of hope and encouragement!” \\ Bethany & Sammie
ABOUT THE CENTER
Most women indicate a lack of moral and physical support as the predominant reason for contemplating the termination of their pregnancy. Our Pregnancy Advocates and Life Coaches are successful in mentoring these women by offering them care, empathy, and tangible resources. We strive to be the hands and feet of Jesus to our families in crisis and make a positive impact in our community, but more importantly—in the individual lives of women and their precious babies.
Our ministry has been a respected presence in the western and southwestern suburban area for over 27 years. Our caring staff provides life-affirming support for women facing an unplanned pregnancy. The ministry portion of SouthWest Options (SWOW) provides clients with a free pregnancy test and life-affirming, Christian counsel with one of our Life Coaches.
Pregnant women receive referrals to medical care, nutrition (WIC), food shelf, child care, temporary and permanent housing assistance, adoption services, parenting education, employment assistance, Life Coaching and other supportive education and care. Clients receive continued care and mentoring throughout pregnancy and for approximately two years following the birth of their child.
During 2016, we had over 2,000 client visits for a variety of assistance and needs, and over 300 for our Earn While You Learn (EWYL) pregnancy education programs. One woman, who was already aware of her pregnancy, came for decision making counseling and chose to parent. Most of these women participated in our EWYL education classes. Our program success is validated through a Client Questionnaire and an Evaluation Assessment Form. Clients have consistently reported that our education programs, our crib, car seat, and infant supplies support, and our caring staff had a significant impact on their decision to carry their pregnancy to term.
In addition, we directly distributes maternity clothing, infant and toddler clothing, diapers, formula, blankets, and infant supplies. Our clients may also “earn” essential baby equipment (cribs, car seats, strollers) by participating in the Earn While You Learn (EWYL) education and incentives program. EWYL participants view educational videos (approx. 20) and demonstrate their knowledge by completing corresponding worksheets on pregnancy and parenting.
Our clientele consists of primarily single, low income women, (below $16,000 a year). Our clients have ranged in age from 11-55, but the average age is 22. Our clientele is comprised of a variety of ethnic backgrounds: Native American, East Indian, Russian, Hmong, Asian, Hispanic, Somali, African, African American, and Caucasian.
SouthWest Options for Women is in Hopkins, MN.
Phone: 952.938.4496
Website: http://southwestoptionsforwomen.org/
