Pennsylvania recently received some tremendous, life affirming news.  By the end of the year, three more Planned Parenthood affiliates will be closing their doors. Affiliates in Chambersburg, Gettysburg, and Scranton will no longer be telling women they can’t handle their unexpected pregnancy and referring them to another Planned Parenthood facility that will kill their child and scar them emotionally, if not physically, for life.  This is exciting news for pre-born babies and their mothers, but it is also a time for reflection and re-dedication.

It is important to note that closings like these are becoming more the rule than they are the exception.  Planned Parenthood is closing these “feeder centers” throughout the country. Ironically, Planned Parenthood receives half a billion dollars of taxpayer dollars annually. These closings are a sign that even Planned Parenthood is not immune to the trend toward pro-life ideology happening across the country, and especially here in Pennsylvania.

What the closing of these centers, and the other centers like them around the state, means, is that the work of pro-life pregnancy resource centers is that much more important.  Women who are experiencing an unexpected pregnancy still will need somewhere to go for help and counsel.  The good news is, with the closing of these centers, there will be less fake help and poor counsel.  We know the pro-life pregnancy centers in these areas stand ready to fill in the void and show these mothers how valuable they and their babies are…the question is, what can you do to help?

Here are some suggestions how you can support your pro-life pregnancy resource center:

1. Volunteer—Pro-life pregnancy centers need people with many different skills, from talking to women who are pregnant, to answering phones, to vacuuming and dusting.
2. Collect—Many of these centers help women by providing them with baby supplies. Consider conducting your own “baby shower” with friends and family and donating the items to your local center.
3. Share—Let people know about the great work these centers do. Share their social media posts and help them spread the word that they exist to help women.
4. Participate—Many of these centers have various events throughout the year, fundraising, volunteer, or otherwise. Consider participating in these events and showing your support.

The closing of these Planned Parenthood centers is certainly good news, but as one avid pro-lifer recently stated “Now is not the time for dancing shoes, it’s time for working boots”.