Wedged between a bail bonds office and tai chi school in Front
Royal is a storefront with the initials FRPC — Front Royal Pregnancy Center.
The women who enter the building find themselves in tough
situations — pregnant or needing to confirm a pregnancy — plagued with
questions of how to be a parent or how to find the items they need to feed and
clothe their little ones.
Inside, they encounter people willing to help. They will find
consultation rooms, a medical room with an ultrasound machine, and baby supplies.
Time is of the essence when it comes to helping women in crisis
pregnancies.
“We need the Catholic population to understand they need to be
ready to be positive and supportive because the window of opportunity is short
with someone who is abortion-minded,” said Kathy Clowes, executive director of FRPC.
“If they are alert to someone who is abortion-minded or stressed out about a
pregnancy, they need to act fast and get them to a pregnancy center, and maybe
support us.”
The center opened in 1991 when a group of Catholics wanted to do the
pro-life work of offering ongoing practical support to women in crisis
pregnancies. It was founded on Catholic principles, affirming the value of life
from natural conception to natural death without exception.
“Our faith is the strong foundation of all that we do here,” said
Clowes. “Because of how we welcome and treat clients, they realize their own
worth and dignity, and can then see the gift that is their child. They can
gather their strength and become the protector of their child.”
Clowes said their mission is to provide emotional and practical
support to women in unexpected or challenging pregnancies and beyond, to
welcome and accompany them so that they can welcome their child.
The addition of an ultrasound machine in 2013 turned the office
into a medical clinic, able to detect a heartbeat as early as five weeks. The
ultrasound also is protecting women’s health.
“We have
sent multiple women on for further evaluation, identified many cases of
multiple pregnancy, and identified non-viable pregnancies, which is important
for women considering abortion,” said nurse manager Carla Sayre. “Sometimes time is all they
need to deal with their situation and find support.”
Care for the client goes beyond the ultrasound and past the birth
of the baby, with FRPC providing baby clothes for up to two years. The center also
provides parenting lessons, individual lessons on pregnancy and breastfeeding.
The center receives funds from local individuals, churches,
Christian schools and a small amount of income from their share of the fees
from the pro-life license plates in Virginia. They receive no government funds.
“Our major fundraiser of the year is the Walk for Life Oct. 5,”
said Clowes.
The theme of this year’s walk is “Now More than Ever,” which
highlights the care of the clinic in the face of changing legislation. The
money goes to operate the center and provide supplies for clients, said Clowes.
“We felt that the need for everyday Christians to be more alert
to the need to support women is critical,” said Clowes. “Now more than ever, we
are finding that the sound of the heartbeat in early pregnancy is making the
difference.”
Chances are, clients will find someone with whom they can relate.
“The nice thing is we have so many different places we all come
from — young, old, working through pregnancies, financial or nonfinancial
straits — most of us can empathize with almost any story,” said Sayre.
“We have seen a lot, but it seems as though God matches up what
their concern is with who they end up with (helping them),” said Clowes.
“Clients become our best ambassadors and become guardian angels
on the lookout for other women who need our help,” Clowes said. “They encourage
women to come to us, and are effective witnesses that the new person will be
cared for with compassion and will be heard.”
Those ambassadors have helped the center grow from 70 clients a
year to 400 clients with about 150 newly expectant moms coming each year.
“We have a great admiration for the strength and resiliency of
women,” said Clowes. “If they will give themselves enough time to really look
at the resources available and take time to see the child on ultrasound, they
can feel more prepared before this life-changing decision.”
Find out more
Go to frontroyalpregnancy.org, call 540/635-6181 or email
[email protected].
