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HOPE PREGNANCY CENTER: Sharing Christ’s Love With Families in Need
On June 24, 2022, the United States Supreme Court announced that the Roe v. Wade ruling was overturned — letting each state decide instead of the federal government whether or not abortion should be legal. This was an exciting day for the pro-life movement, which has persisted since the original 1973 ruling. There’s still much work to do to ensure mothers and fathers have the support they need to keep their babies. The Hope Pregnancy Center in Willmar is doing that work now and will continue this work far in the future. The Hope Pregnancy Center is a place for families to find support and love as they navigate an unplanned pregnancy.
St. Joseph parishioner Avis Swenson has volunteered at the center for more than eight years. Her involvement started in an unlikely way. She had planned to attend the March for Life at the State Capital, but her husband, Dave, couldn’t attend, and the temperatures were extremely cold. Dave and Avis made a plan to get involved in the pro-life movement locally. Avis became a volunteer at Hope Pregnancy Center. Dave used his Knights of Columbus connection to spread the word that the center needed a new ultrasound machine. Several Knights helped raise money for one.
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“This work has always been meaningful, but now it’s more important than ever,” Avis says. “We need to provide for women and children. This important work is being done at places like this.”
The Hope Pregnancy Center is there to support families, offer classes for families, and provide STI testing. The staff’s goal is to help men and women facing an unplanned pregnancy. Avis goes a few times a month to volunteer for the day. She does everything from answering phone calls to cleaning to watching children while their mother has an ultrasound. There’s a baby boutique where families can earn points, called “baby bucks,” to shop. They receive points by attending prenatal appointments and going through classes. Mothers and fathers also receive a laundry basket full of supplies, called a “baby bundle,” after the baby arrives. As of July, 24 bundles had been distributed this year.
“There are times when women come in and want a specific staff person to know that the time they spend with them was very meaningful,” Avis says. “They are very thankful that they came to the center.”
One time when Avis was volunteering, a staff member told her that after seeing an ultrasound of the baby, the woman told her, “Yep, I am going to keep this child.”
Avis credits her husband, Dave, for his support of this work. She’s also thankful to Fr. Paul Timmerman for his support of the center.
“This is definitely the most God-centered place I have been honored to work at,” Avis says. “We gather in prayer to pray for clients. Each of the staff members is so caring, and so focused on this position and this work and wanting to help others.”
