Written by Ben Cox – The new Executive Director for the Central Texas Pregnancy Care Center has been given a true trial by fire, starting just in time to help put the finishing touches on the Center’s biggest fundraiser, which is Thursday, March 7th.
Amanda Towns moved to the area last summer with her family after her husband Mark took over as lead pastor at First Baptist Church, Brownwood.
Towns is no stranger to working for a cause she believes in. “I come from a non-profit background. While we were in Missouri (prior to the move to Brownwood) I worked for a foster care and adoption resource center, a local non-profit that provided multiple programs.”
Towns continues “I was the operations director, the administrative side of the organization. So, administrative non-profit is not new to me. Having a ministry heart is not new to me, that is what our family has done for the last 25 years. It’s something that is near and dear to me and my husband’s hearts.”
The main focus of the Pregnancy Care Center, located at 2200 Austin Avenue, is “to provide free, confidential pregnancy tests for women in the community.”
However, that is not the only service offered by the Center. “We provide pre-natal vitamins, medical referrals, proof of pregnancy so they can apply for Medicaid, and we have recently applied to help with Medicaid applications, and we also provide parenting education. Women can come back after their child is born and take parenting classes with us.”
The classes are part of a program that helps new mothers earn points towards supplies they might need for their children, all while learning how to be the best parent they can. “It’s called Baby Buzz, and it allows them to purchase baby items from our on-site baby store. They can earn enough points to outfit an entire nursery, cribs, crib mattresses, pack and plays, or they can earn enough for a pacifier or diapers and wipes.”
One thing Towns makes clear, is that the women who come through the doors of the Center will feel as though their pregnancy is a miracle, not a burden. “We are not a crisis pregnancy center. Pregnancy is not a crisis, it’s always a miracle. We want to present that as the hope and dignity of pregnancy. They may come in in less than ideal situations, but we don’t want them leaving as though they have no hope. That is the purpose of the Pregnancy Care Center.”
Towns says that despite some of the situations that bring women to their door, a blessing can occur from every pregnancy. “Sometimes they think ‘how am I ever going to do this?’ They can do this. They were given this miracle life because The Lord trusted them with that life. And they’re going to be able to do this, but they need to think about how they’re going to do that. So we sit down with them and help them consider all of their options for them and their baby.”
The Center is funded by donations from businesses and families across Brownwood, as well as the four counties they serve through satellite centers. Their largest fundraiser, which happens every two years, is taking place this Saturday.
Comedian Heather Land will perform Thursday, March 7th, at the Coliseum at 7p.m. and tickets are still available. “The coast for the upper seats is $30, but if you buy 6 or more the cost goes down to $25 a seat.” Tickets will be not sold at the door, they must be bought online on the event page of the Centers website.
The Central Texas Pregnancy Care Center is at 220 Austin Avenue, and they can be reached by calling 325-646-5433.
