Right to Life donates ultrasound machine to Pregnancy Help Center.

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GREENVILLE — Thanks to Darke County Right to Life, the Pregnancy Help Center has an ultrasound machine.

The Pregnancy Help Center, located at 105 W. Third St., Greenville, is designed for men and women’s resource for unexpected pregnancy.

“We got the machine two weeks ago” said Lois Monroe, director.

“It’s for females to come in and get the procedure done and it’s free,” she said. “Ours will be provided free through guidelines. They have to be at least 10 weeks along. We do not diagnose.”

Monroe admitted she was skeptical at first about receiving it, but is getting more and more excited about it.

She and Trudy Eastland, who will be taking Monroe’s place in a few months as director due to retirement, had met with Patty Thies at the Choosing Life Pregnancy Center in Mercer County, and that got them interested in getting the machine and offering that service.

“Hopefully it will be of help to us and to the community,” Monroe said.

While the equipment is free, the Pregnancy Help Center will have to provide gowns, paper and gel and other supplies that go with the testing. Another room at the facility had to be rented for the testing room, and that was another $100 for the Pregnancy Center.

“We will have three trained nurses doing the testing. They are Rachel Francis of Wayne HealthCare; Jessica Barga, a new member on the board; and Carol Leonard, a retiree,” she indicated.

Zoe Chester came to Greenville from Indiana to do training on the machine.

“Now we need to have a medical doctor to read the tests for us,” Monroe said.

She said the majority of the girls and women coming in to the center at in their early 20s.

Another new feature for the center is the education in sexuality program taken into the schools three days a week, usually during health class or a course related to living independently.

“We have junior high and high school programs,” Monroe said.

“It has been my heart’s desire to get this done,” she added. “It’s so exciting.”

“We are in five schools, Arcanum, Ansonia, Greenville, Tri-Village and Mississinawa Valley,” said Eastland.

Monroe said two years ago they went to observe a presentation and did one at Greenville Schools.

“The next year we were able to get Tri-Village and Arcanum and last year Mississinawa and Ansonia,” she said. “We are working on Versailles. Some do them in the spring time and one in the fall, so we’re in the schools twice a year. We have another presentation in Greenville and we’re about done for this year.”

“I hope we can make a different in teens’ lives,” Eastland said.

“We have presented to about 1,000 students and have ordered 1,000 more with updates,” Monroe said.

The director did say that the center has not been that busy this winter.

“It slowed down tremendously with clients,” she said. “We were able to convert most of those and get them into parenting classes. They can earn baby beds and free diapers.”

She said the females coming into the center are involved one-on-one, whereas the males are taught by a man, Micah Thorp, in group session.

Monroe, who started this center in 2010, said there are 26 volunteers between the board and the staff.

She said there will be full day of training in Columbus, Indiana, for them in September.

They are tentatively planning a May 1 opening for the ultrasound.

“It would be nice to have a medical doctor by that date to read it,” Monroe said.

The Pregnancy Help Center’s mission statement is: “The Pregnancy Help Center is a life affirming Christian ministry which provides alternatives to abortion, pregnancy-related services for women and their families and promote abstinence as a safe lifestyle for unmarried persons.”

It is a not-for-profit organization, called to God to serve practical, physical and emotional needs of couples or individuals who are or suspect themselves to be in on an unexpected pregnancy. Intense pressure, difficult circumstances and society may cause them to make a choice other than life for their baby.

Those at the help center are there to be the voice of the unborn to help mother and the child within her survive and thrive. They offer friendship and emotional support, resources, education and confidentiality in a compassionate, non-judgmental setting.

Services offered there, in addition now to the ultrasound, are confidentiality, free pregnancy testing, 24-hour hotline [937-547-1112], parenting classes to earn baby items, fatherhood training, maternity clothing, sexual integrity education, post-abortion support, sexually-transmitted diseases information, abortion education and natural family planning information.

The pregnancy center has information on sexual health, healthy relationships, fetal development, adoption and abortion education, the Morning-After Pill and the Early Option Pill. Officials there make referrals for adoption services and for community resources and offer medical referrals and parenting classes.

It is located at 105 W. Third St. in Greenville.

Pregnancy Help Center Director Lois Monroe, left, and Trudy Eastland are shown in the ultrasound equipment room at the center. It is tentatively set for May 1 for its opening.
https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_ultrasounddonationPRINT.jpgPregnancy Help Center Director Lois Monroe, left, and Trudy Eastland are shown in the ultrasound equipment room at the center. It is tentatively set for May 1 for its opening.

By Linda Moody

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This writer may be reached at 937-569-4315. Follow her on Facebook and join the conversation and get updates on Facebook by searching Darke County Sports or Advocate 360. For more features online go to dailyadvocate.com.

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