A hallmark of the pregnancy help movement is how pregnancy help organizations (PHOs) step forward to support each other in their community, no matter their own situation or needs. This is true when centers are affected by natural disaster or other sort of challenge, but also on general principle.
PHOs are supporting centers in Ukraine and the surrounding countries receiving refugees via Heartbeat International’s HALO Helping Affiliated Life-affirming Organizations fund. The HALO fund also benefits centers that have suffered destruction from earthquakes, fires or wildfires, floods, hurricanes and other storms.
in Jacksonville, Fla. just prior to the Heartbeat International Annual Pregnancy Help Conference/Lisa Bourne
Sometimes the support comes out of love, abundance and blessing, and recognition of another's need.
Just prior to Heartbeat International’s Annual Pregnancy Help Conference representatives of three international affiliate organizations visited a local pregnancy help medical clinic for a tour and came away blessed by the center’s graciousness and generosity.
Kat Weir, project manager for Pregnancy Resource Centre of Jamaica, and Iness Simwawa, director and founder for Khumi Life Resource Center in Kitwe, Zambia, along with Kamille Martindale and Harriet Walcott, executive director and director of development, respectively of Unborn Justice, of Bridgetown, Barbados, were in Jacksonville, Fla., the location for this year’s Heartbeat Conference, and visited the Northside Center of First Coast Women’s Services.
Northside Center/Lisa Bourne
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First Coast’s Northside Center is one of five sites and the newest for the PHO, which serves the tri-county area of Duvall, Clay, and St. John’s Counties.
North Florida is an area of need for pregnancy help due to a proliferation of abortion centers and women traveling from other states to Florida for abortions, But the individual countries represented at the visit to the Northside Center face incredible challenge in responding to the needs of women and families in their areas, if nothing else because resources and funding.
The visit to the north Florida pregnancy help medical clinic ended with fellowship and new connections between the pregnancy help personnel, with prayer, and the First Coast team making arrangements to send each of the visitors back to their respective countries with a suitcase full of supplies to serve women in need.
“It was really amazing,” said Ellen Foell, international specialist for Heartbeat. “The were incredibly generous with their time, and with those resources.”
“They really showed interest with the international visitors,” Foell said. “They showed they have a heart for our internationals.”
Diapers, baby clothes, blankets and bottles will all make their way to Barbados, Jamaica, and Zambia after the Heartbeat Conference.
at First Coast Women’s Services Northside center/Lisa Bourne
“I think we need to come together no matter what country we’re from, we should do all we can to connect,” Northside Director Cindy Ragland told Pregnancy Help News. “We’re all on the same battlefield.”
“We should be able to connect across county, state, and country lines,” she added. “Because we’re all on God’s accord.”
Tweet This: I think we need to come together no matter what country we’re from. We’re all on the same battlefield - U.S. pregnancy help director
"The visit to the center was so refreshing," Martindale told Pregnancy Help News. "It is absolutely beautiful! It gives us a picture of what we can work toward."
"Mrs. Judy Weber has been supporting our centre for the past three years," she said. "The partnership between centres so far away is very special. Even though we are so diverse in so many ways, we share the same heart and mission. The gifts given to the centers were a beautiful and most appreciated gesture."
First Coast is in the regular habit of tithing from its baby bottle campaigns with the proceeds going to other centers in need, assisting centers in Florida, South Africa, Israel, and Barbados.
In 2020 First Coast took in $150K from the baby bottles, donating $15K to other centers, and in 2021 that figure rose to $191K, resulting in a donation amount of $19K.
This is testament to the support the PHO sees in its area.
“It’s a lot of baby bottles,” said Judy Weber, First Coast’s CEO.
Weir was impressed with the Northside Center, the first that First Coast has been able to build from the ground up, remarking that it was a Cadillac to her center’s Pinto. The land for the Northside Center was donated, as were the furnishings, décor, and decorating, with the end result a bright, fresh, welcoming space.
“In Jamaica we just don’t get people donating,” she said.
Simwawa was moved by the gift of supplies to take back home to Zambia.
“I’m really excited for the blessing that I’ve received from the center,” she said. “Thank you so much. Our babies will be blessed.”
Tweet This: I’m really excited for the blessing I’ve received from the center. Our babies will be blessed- Zambia pregnancy director re U.S. donations
They are going into cold weather in Zambia, she said, so in addition to the diapers and regular baby supplies, the clothes and blankets will be out to good use.
“We really thank God for that,” said Simwawa. “May God bless you, from our country.”
The Heartbeat Conference ran from Mar. 30- Apr. 1.
