Being raised in the church, I’ve been a Christian ever since I can remember, and I’m a proud fourth-generation member of Wayne Street United Methodist Church in St. Marys. Living out my faith takes many forms, such as attending church and helping with children’s ministries, but more recently, I’ve longed to use my spiritual gifts to bless those in need who may not be believers in Christ.
I’m thankful to Marketing Essentials for the opportunity to use my Pay It Forward hours, paid time off I can use to volunteer for an organization I’m passionate about. Because I struggled with postpartum anxiety in the past, God has given me a heart for young mothers. For this reason, I chose to volunteer at the Family Life Center of Auglaize County, a pregnancy resource center located in downtown Wapakoneta, Ohio.
What is a Pregnancy Resource Center?
A pregnancy resource center is a facility that provides free or discounted supplies, services and educational resources to women who are pregnant or already have children. In the case of the Family Life Center, there is also a “baby boutique” with gently used baby, maternity and postpartum items for sale at very affordable prices.
Here are some of the services the Family Life Center offers, all of which are free and confidential:
- Pregnancy tests
- Ultrasounds
- Options counseling
- STD testing
- Parenting/life skills classes
- And more
Although the Family Life Center is located in Wapakoneta, it serves all of Auglaize County and is open to anyone who needs support in motherhood and beyond.
My Time Volunteering at the Family Life Center
I found multiple ways to help out the Family Life Center. I brought in some donations for the baby boutique and visited the center to meet with Alyssa Lauck, director of the Family Life Center of Auglaize County. But I wasn’t the only visitor – I also brought my four-month-old daughter, Via.
I asked Alyssa how I could support the center with my marketing expertise during my time at the center. We discussed the goals Alyssa has for the center and how to expand its outreach to other areas of Auglaize County. I also helped create a quarterly newsletter that is sent to the center’s supporters and donors.
A significant part of Alyssa’s director role is working one-on-one with clients who come to the center for support. While at the center, I was privileged to witness a touching example of how the center positively impacts its clients’ lives.
A client had just completed a set of parenting classes she’d been working on for several weeks, and Alyssa reflected with the client about what she had learned. Afterward, Alyssa prayed with the client, thanking God for her willingness to change for the better. The client then shed some happy tears and shared that she would miss coming into the center regularly – she thought of Alyssa and the volunteers as family. Of course, she was welcome to come visit the center anytime.
How You Can Get Involved
If you would like to support the Family Life Center of Auglaize County, there are several ways you can do so. Financial support is much appreciated, and here are some other ways you can help:
- Donate gently used baby and maternity clothing
- Volunteer to work at the center in the baby boutique
- Donate toys, diapers, bottles, formula, baby food or other baby essentials
- Consider partnering your church with the center for ministry opportunities
Also, here is the contact information for the Family Life Center if you would like to contact them directly:
Family Life Center of Auglaize County
116 E. Auglaize Street STE B
Wapakoneta, OH 45895
419-738-HOPE (4673)
Center Hours
Tuesday: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Thursday: 10:00 a.m. - 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 12 p.m.
