Pro-life leaders celebrate volunteers during Pregnancy Help Appreciation Week

(Pregnancy Help News) – Pro-life leaders nationwide have come together to recognize the great work of pregnancy help organizations by sharing their admiration for them during Pregnancy Help Appreciation Week.

Designed by Heartbeat International to honor those working within the pregnancy help movement, the week celebrates those working within the organizations to ensure that women and men receive the compassionate support they need when facing a life-changing decision.

“We are so excited,” said Heartbeat International President Jor-El Godsey. “It’s not the first, it’s not the second, it’s actually the sixth annual Pregnancy Help Appreciation Week.”

Throughout the week Heartbeat offers words of encouragement for the 11,000-plus staff and volunteers working within the movement at Heartbeat’s more than 2,700 pregnancy help locations worldwide, along with special deals for centers.

Heartbeat’s many affiliates consist of pregnancy resource centers, medical clinics, maternity homes and non-profit adoption agencies.

These communications are shared on social media using the hashtag #ThankAPregnancyCenter.

“We’re celebrating you and we thank you for your commitment, your leadership, and your service to God,” said Cindi Boston, Heartbeat International vice president.

Appreciation for those serving in the pregnancy help community poured in to Heartbeat from across the pro-life movement.

“We know that [pregnancy help organizations] are on the front lines when it comes to building a culture of life,” Jeanne Mancini, president of the March for Life, said via video. “We know that you provide all sorts of free resources for women and families facing unexpected pregnancies.”

“We also know that when someone faces and unexpected pregnancy, what they need more than anything is support and to be told that someone is going to be there for them,” Mancini added, “and that’s what you all do.”

“I got to work alongside hundreds of pregnancy ministries,” said David Bereit, co-founder of 40 Days for Life. “And in that experience, I got to see the selflessness, the dedication, the hard work and the desire to love and to serve mothers and through them, being able to save their children.”

“I am in awe of the work that you do,” Bereit said.

U.S. pregnancy help centers served nearly 2 million people with free services in 2017, according to the Charlotte Lozier Institute, saving communities at least $161 million.

READ: Five reasons why everyone should love pregnancy resource centers

A vast majority of those savings came from the 400,100 ultrasounds performed at the centers. In addition to ultrasounds, centers provide material resources such as diapers and clothing, free pregnancy tests, parenting classes, and abortion recovery groups.

“It’s at that [pregnancy] center where I learned that I didn’t have to be angry about abortion, that I could do something about abortion,” said Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America. “I could love her more, and show her that we can and support her more. And you all are doing that every single day.”

Other pro-life supporters shared messages of hope as well

“I have spent the last year and a half traveling, not only the U.S., but the world,” said Ashley Bratcher, star of Unplanned. “And I have seen what everyone is doing in this movement to help women. To help families. To create a culture of life.”

“You are the ones who are the real heroes,” Bratcher said.

“What you’re doing, combined with what people are doing all across America and around the world, is making a world-changing impact saving thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of lives,” Bereit emphasized.

“You are fighting for life,” Bratcher affirmed. “It is so important.”

“Let me tell you something, if even one life is positively affected by what you’re doing, it’s all worth it,” she said. “So please, keep fighting, know that you are appreciated, and let’s love people and love them well.”

“We’re a team,” Hawkins said. “And we have to do this together.”

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published at Pregnancy Help News and is reprinted here with permission. 

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