The discussion of the possible defunding of taxpayer money to Planned Parenthood has highlighted the fact that pregnancy centers have operated for years without federal taxpayer subsidies.
Yet in spite of a staggering $700 million Planned Parenthood receives each year in taxpayer funding, the abortion giant continues to charge for everything, while most pregnancy centers charge for nothing.
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The pregnancy help community knows fundraising is an ongoing effort, with various events planned throughout the year. From dinners, journals, raffles, walk-a-thons, auctions, garage sales, and baby bottle campaigns, to reaching out for local services including electricians, roofers, gardeners, repairmen for donated help, finding ways to cut costs and have services remain free is front and center.
Abortion centers rake in money for every "service" they offer, with abortions being their primary sale. They charge between $600 - $2000 for abortions, depending on the stage of pregnancy and what part of the country they're in.
And Planned Parenthood's pregnancy tests? They cost about $20-$25 in local pharmacies; some dollar stores now sell them for $1.25 or $1.50. Pregnancy centers routinely offer them for free. But Planned Parenthood, after buying them in huge quantities just like pregnancy centers do, charges over $100 in various parts of the U.S.
In talking to women at the pregnancy center where I serve, I learned that the Planned Parenthood nearest us now charges $140 for a pregnancy test, unless the client's insurance covers it.
With that kind of mark up, do they really need taxpayer funding?
Some may wonder, wouldn't it be easier to charge clients something to help offset the formidable operating expenses of rent, electricity, heat and A/C, furniture, computers, printers, pregnancy tests, literature, etc.? Donors themselves sometimes ask this question. What about just $25 for each client that comes in?
No, say those who work in pregnancy help.
Stefania Foxx, assistant director of Alpha Pregnancy Center in Schenectady, N.Y., explains why.
"First and foremost, we're able to get the information a girl needs in a moment of crisis. We're not limited to talking only about a certain choice," she said. “Because pregnancy centers aren't dependent on one choice over another, we can talk to them about the full reality of their situation, not just about a certain choice like the abortion centers do."
"We're here to help them,” said Rosemary Woods of First Way Collingswood, N.J. “Everything is so expensive these days. We have people living in a tiny two room apartment with two kids. I'm not going to charge them for a pack of diapers."
The center has been there for 54 years.
"So, people in the community know about us, that we try to help pregnant moms and young parents,” Woods said. “We talk to them about their baby, a unique little person. Sometimes they're surprised when they ask what they need to bring, and we say just a form of ID."
Volunteer Meg Malley helps out at Women First Pregnancy Options in Massapequa, N.Y. She says talking to young women in unplanned pregnancy involves calming them and building trust.
"These are acts of kindness,” Malley said. “Kindness helps calm these girls. Our work comes from the heart. No charge!"
The fact that nearly all of the services provided by pregnancy centers are free for clients highlights the fact that pregnancy centers do not profit by the client’s pregnancy decision and underscores the reality of who really is in it to serve women.
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