Help will soon be available in Poteau for those going through unplanned pregnancies
The LeFlore Baptist Association has added a new mission of helping people by opening a pregnancy center in their old bookstore building.
Choices Pregnancy Center will provide pregnancy tests, ultrasounds and advice, all for free for those going through a pregnancy which was not planned.
Peggy Duncan, executive director of the new Choices Pregnancy Center, said "one of the big reasons for the Center coming to Poteau is LeFlore County is third in the state in unplanned pregnancies." Duncan was a director at a pregnancy center in Oklahoma Center for eight years before coming to Poteau.
In order to offer this free service, the center is going to rely on donations from churches of any demonination and businesses to help fill the need. "We are not financially supported by the LBA," said Duncan,"we are not in their budget.
Which is why "Choices" held a banquet on October 25, 2012, at the Poteau Reynolds Center.
Keynote Speaker was Kirk Walden. He is a former resource center director and the founder of LifeTrends which serves over 1,000 life-affirming ministries across the United States and the world.
The goal of the event was to raise over $91,000.
$34,400 for payroll, taxes and workman's compensation insurance.
$11,721 for office supplies, postage, utilities, educational books, legal, maintenance and repairs.
$26, 471 for advertising and literature, printing, membership fees and fund raising.
$18,435 for medical supplies, insurance, training and travel.
This makes a grand total of $91,027.
The program is not just for single individuals. She wants to provide the services for anybody who is going through an unplanned pregnancy, even if it is more mature individuals.
“We expect to minister to the young men and women of LeFlore County,” she Duncan. “We will provide a place when they are desperate and scared.”
Unlike Grace Cottage, Choices cannot provide them a place to stay but will refer people to Grace Cottage if they need a place to live.
They plan to be open 3 days a week starting January 3, 2012 and most of the staff will be volunteers.
Choice Pregnancy Center is located at 106 Flanagan in Poteau.
For more information about Choices contact Duncan at 918-647-8271.
