Start of a new life

Start of a new life

Wiregrass Hope guides women through unplanned pregnancies

When a woman needs help coping with an unplanned pregnancy, Wiregrass Hope Group steps in to provide aid.

The nonprofit organization in Dothan offers free pregnancy tests and ultrasounds, as well as a nine-step parenting program that guides the parents through the pregnancy. Those who complete the program receive a car seat.

Wiregrass Electric Cooperative’s Operation Round Up Charitable Foundation recently donated $9,000 to Wiregrass Hope Group to help the organization purchase car seats.

“This is such a great organization that is really helping young women in our area when they are in need,” says WEC Chief Operating Officer Brad Kimbro. “We applaud everything they are doing, and we know they will continue to do great work for our community.”

Amy Edge, who has worked with Wiregrass Hope Group for three years, was named the executive director in 2017. She said the donation from Operation Round Up will be enough to purchase car seats for the next two years.

“Knowing that we have our clients provided for is huge,” Edge says. “Wiregrass Hope Group is supported by the people of the Wiregrass, and we couldn’t do what we do without donations. We are so grateful to Wiregrass Electric’s members for this donation.”

Pictured, from left, are Brad Kimbro, WEC chief operating officer; Steve Loveland, president of Wiregrass Hope Group board of directors; Jeremiah Dalton, director of counseling at Wiregrass Hope Group; Myra Johnson Bell, secretary of Operation Round Up board of trustees; Amy Edge, executive director of Wiregrass Hope Group; Susan Bailey, vice president of Operation Round Up board of trustees; Tiffany Coleman, counselor at Wiregrass Hope Group; and David Hall, president of Operation Round Up board of trustees.

A helping hand

Wiregrass Hope Group opened in 1984, when it was known as Sav-A-Life. In addition to a parenting program and a character and relationship education program, they also provided biblical counseling.

After moving to its current location on Westgate Parkway in Dothan in 2003, the name was changed to Wiregrass Hope Group. In 2004, the organization began offering ultrasounds and a fatherhood program. Also, it began a post-abortive and pregnancy loss Bible study.

The goal of Wiregrass Hope Group is to guide the mother through the pregnancy and to prepare her for life after the baby is born. They also can help guide the mother through the adoption if they feel like they can’t care for the baby.

Amy Edge, executive director of Wiregrass Hope Group, shows the Operation Round Up board how they organize each client's file.

In addition to caring for the mother, the organization offers a fatherhood program to help guide the father through the pregnancy.

“Healthy families are critical to our society,” Edge says. “We’re helping this female process a lot of decisions. She’s going to be a new mother, and we help her process all of that. We are helping to prepare her for this crucial time in her life and the start of this child’s life.”

In addition to the car seat, the mother earns points each time she visits Wiregrass Hope Group, and those points can be used in the baby boutique, which has donated baby clothes, blankets and toys.

“To see the baby come back with the mother, and it’s well cared for, is very gratifying,” Edge says. “You sat with that mom 40 weeks earlier, and they said they couldn’t do this. Now, you are seeing a precious baby in a car seat that’s completely taken care of.”