by Hayley Nations
Tucked away in a shopping center near ENMU campus is an organization that is helping families in need. The Pregnancy Resource Center, or PRC, is ready and willing to help pregnant women facing tough situations.
What is the Pregnancy Resource Center?
According to Jessica, their executive director, they provide free and confidential pregnancy tests, STI tests, and ultrasounds, but that’s not even the half of it. Expecting mothers and fathers are offered pregnancy courses and parenting classes in exchange for “baby bucks”. The baby bucks can be used to “purchase” a range of needed items from their Baby Boutique, including: diapers and wipes, books, clothes, nursery furniture and more. Expectant parents in need of financial help are directed towards WIC and other low income relief programs. They also provide help with recovery for mothers who have experienced miscarriage or who chose abortion. “I think the most important thing for someone to know is that we’re not going to judge you, no matter what your situation is,” says Caitlin, who is the first person a visitor sees as they walk into the building.
The people who work and volunteer at the PRC have a heart for helping people. “Anytime I do any kind of work, I really just want to focus on helping people,” says Susan, who heads client services in their Portales location.
“I knew I needed women who could be my village when I had kids…that’s how I got involved, I wanted to help women and meet women,” says Caitlin, emphasizing the PRC’s heart towards loving and helping the women in Portales.
What events and initiatives do they plan for the future?
The PRC has their annual banquet coming up in October, a major fundraising event. Other fundraisers include an annual fun run in March and a baby bottle campaign in late spring. They are also working on building relationships with local churches in order to provide mentorship opportunities.
In addition, the PRC is working on expanding a new initiative, empowering men to be fathers by offering options counseling, parenting classes, and material support to the father as well as the mother. Their goal is to strengthen and restore the family unit, according to Jessica. They also recently opened their new location in Clovis.
If you would like to be involved they are looking for more volunteers, especially for the new men’s initiative. They also take financial donations and physical donations for their Baby Boutique. They have two locations in eastern New Mexico: Clovis and Portales.
If you are concerned about an unplanned pregnancy, find the PRC online at https://prcenm.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PregnancyResourceCenterENM. To reiterate, services are free and confidential.
