A Heart of Compassion Story By Lindy Oller Photos Contributed By Women’s Hope
Staff at Women's Hope assisting a patient
M
any women who are pregnant for the first time have a list of questions that they often relay to their mother, grandmother, doctor or other members of their support system. But some first-time pregnant women do not have a circle of family and friends they can go to for advice. Women’s Hope Medical Clinic in Auburn provides an outlet for women facing unplanned pregnancies who need support when they find out they are pregnant, according to Daria Monroe, executive director of the clinic since 2017. The clinic has served thousands of patients since its founding in 1983. Monroe said WHMC served more than 800 people in 2021. The clinic has continued to operate even in the middle of a pandemic. At the beginning of the pandemic, the clinic was ready to adapt to the new changes created by COVID-19. “Under the guidance of our medical director, our administrative staff temporarily worked from home while our medical staff limited hours to serve our most vulnerable
patients,” Monroe said. “We maintained our most essential operations, and we shifted our parenting education program to entirely online classes.” The clinic wanted to hold an event to help those financially impacted by the pandemic, Monroe said. In April 2020, the clinic had a curbside diaper giveaway that served over 200 families. Groceries were also provided through the clinic’s partnership with a local church. The clinic has been able to go back to full operating hours, although the pandemic positively influenced the clinic’s education services. “Our education program has grown exponentially over the last year and a half because of the ability to offer online classes,” Monroe said. “Our hope is to offer both flexible online and in-person programming.” The classes help equip patients with the tools they need to make decisions regarding pregnancy. The clinic provides accurate and helpful information in a compassionate environment, to empower life-affirming choices that change lives, according to its website. The clinic’s website also states that it will not offer or refer patients for pregnancy
—8—
