Katy pregnancy center readies for fundraiser

While the Pregnancy Help Center of West Houston began two decades ago helping women in the Katy area cope with a crisis pregnancy, center leaders want the community to know its work goes beyond babies and continues to serve those in need.

"We meet people at their point of greatest need, keeping in mind that many times the pregnancy is a symptom of other life events," said Debbie Stoddard, center executive director. "No matter what their choice or decision or plan of action is to be, we continue to meet our clients at their point of greatest need with love, respect, truth and value of all life."

Providing comprehensive care and support to women as well as men no matter their circumstance is just one of the "hidden treasures" of the Pregnancy Help Center and leaders want to share more at a fundraiser and reception.

The "Hidden Treasures: annual Benefit Reception" will be from 6:30–9 p.m. March 31 in the Cullen Hall of Gems and Minerals at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, 5555 Hermann Park Drive. Author Gary Thomas will be the guest speaker. Call 281-578-0078.

Most people don't realize the depth of services offered at the center, Stoddard said, and new people in the community may not know about the center.

Located at 1450 E. Summitry Circle, the center provides counseling, education, prenatal and parenting support, Bible studies and resources for women and men facing a crisis pregnancy. Funded by private donations, grants and fundraisers, the pregnancy center has a small paid staff and a large base of volunteers.

The center also provides post-abortive recovery support to women who have experienced an abortion and hosts Rachel's Vineyard retreats four times a year in Round Top. The retreat includes an intense time of Scripture reading and study to provide healing.

"We have a lot of folks in the Christian community that need healing from past abortions so that's why we started doing this," said Stoddard, adding that the center is helping local church leaders provide similar retreats for their congregations.

In addition to the post-abortive support, the Pregnancy Help Center is providing women and men with childbirth and parenting classes, sexual integrity counseling, and this summer will offer Bible-based classes to those who have been sexually abused.

More married couples are also benefiting from the center's free support, Stoddard said, whether through counseling, parenting training or resources.

"We've seen a 20 percent increase in married couples because of the economy," Stoddard said. "People who have lost jobs or insurance and have been married a while are having a second or third child and are looking for help."

Last year, the center provided services to 631 new clients, both women and men. The majority are between the ages of 20–24 years old with the highest percentage of clients being Hispanic/Latin American. Stoddard expects the number of clients to grow as the Katy area expands.

The center continues to see an increase in male clients and is dedicated to recruiting more male volunteers. Tom LaHouse, former center board member, initiated the MALE program to help bring in more men to serve.

"Most of our volunteers are women and it's my desire to give men a practical, visible way to be involved in a substantial way," said LaHouse, who also recently ran the Houston Marathon to raise money for the center.

The pregnancy center is not only encouraging women in their role as mothers, LaHouse said, but is also helping change lives that will impact future generations.

"For clients who invest the time to allow us to work with them over the course of their pregnancy and a year beyond, we have seen phenomenal growth," LaHouse said. "We have seen both women and men equipped to rise up to the challenge of being parents."