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Saving Lives and Providing Assistance to Women in Need: The Women’s Help Center of Jacksonville
Sometimes it’s easy to tune out information that’s difficult or unpleasant. It’s easier to stay in our comfortable world, giving little or no attention to things that don’t appear to directly affect us. But sometimes, we’re forced out of our rosy lives, coming face to face with the reality surrounding us.
Such was the case for Our Lady Star of the Sea parishioner John Clegg. Although he had always considered himself pro-life, John was startled when another parishioner and our pastor at the time asked him to serve as the coordinator of our Respect Life Ministry. It wasn’t long before something changed inside him.
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“That really expanded my knowledge quite dramatically about the life issue,” John says. “I was reading a lot of material and trying to make myself as knowledgeable as possible, and the more I read, the more I realized that the life issue is the human rights issue of our time, with well over a million innocent children dying in the womb, every year, in the United States.”
Several years later, John was asked to serve on the board of the Women’s Help Center, a crisis pregnancy center, with three locations in Jacksonville.
The Women’s Help Center has been serving women in Jacksonville for over 30 years, with their primary location downtown, on University Boulevard. The location is intentional, situated within half a mile of several downtown abortion clinics. Services offered at Women’s Help Center include free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, as well as material and financial support for pregnant mothers.
“The young women who come in, they’re in a crisis,” John says. “They’re very fearful. Often, they don’t have the support of their boyfriend or family members. Sometimes it’s a situation where [someone] is coercing her to get the abortion, and sometimes it can be even worse than that — it can be a situation where domestic violence is involved.
“We bring the young woman into a safe environment to chat with her about the difficulties and crisis she is facing,” he adds. “We’ll do anything we can to help and support them in whatever difficulties they’re facing.”
Those who work at the Women’s Help Center provide those they serve with the information necessary to help them make an informed decision. They also provide the support necessary, should a woman choose to continue her pregnancy and protect the life of her child.
“We’re motivated by love of the mother and love of the child,” John says. “We don’t stand to gain anything. Most of us are giving our time, talent and treasure to save that life, and to save the woman from making a decision she might regret for the rest of her life.”
The stories of lives that have been impacted by the work of Women’s Help Center are what keep the volunteers coming back.
“We have young people coming back and saying to us, ‘My mom has told me the story of the difficult, unplanned pregnancy she had and I wouldn’t be here today without Women’s Help Center,’” John says. “It’s very rewarding.”
Over the years, Our Lady Star of the Sea has played a significant role in the services provided to women in need at the Women’s Help Center. From parishioners like John serving on the Board, to Executive Director Nancy Basham being a member of our parish, Women’s Help Center is grateful for our community’s investment.
“Our Lady Star of the Sea has always had an incredible connection and influence with this ministry,” John says. “Women’s Help Center wouldn’t have flourished the way it has flourished, if it were not for our parish.”
Parishioners are encouraged to support Women’s Help Center through prayer, and if they feel called, by volunteering or making a financial contribution. All are also invited to attend the annual Gala Fundraiser for Life, which will take place on Sept. 1, featuring pro-life speaker Candace Owens.
“We always need prayer because young women are making these decisions every day,” John says. “We need prayers that they find peace when they go in, that they have the information to make an informed choice, and they do realize they’re carrying a human being.
“When someone walks through our doors, I hope they feel some peace,” he adds. “Whatever their background, we’re here to help them.”
