March 19, 2014

By Colleen Miner
Staff writer

Plattsburgh - A crisis pregnancy center has been established in Plattsburgh, next to the only Planned Parenthood in our diocese that offers surgical abortions.

This has been a dream for many pro-lifers who have stood for hours outside Planned Parenthood, praying and wondering what more they can do.

Following Rod Murphy’s September presentation at the fall 40 Days for Life kick-off rally, a small group was motivated to do more.

Murphy, founder of Frontline Centers Crisis Pregnancy Centers, explained the need for a center with sidewalk counseling.

Ann Scheidler of Pro-Life Action League gave a sidewalk counseling training session in November and since then, the planning and organizing has come to fruition.

Nancy Belzile, President of the Plattsburgh Pregnancy Center, Inc said, “Women in crisis pregnancies deserve to be treated with love and respect and provided with caring support, factual information and access to helpful resources that are available in order to make informed choices.

Having a crisis pregnancy center in close proximity to the abortion facility provides direct saving of human lives at the doors of the abortion clinic,” she said.

The center, located at 62 Brinkerhoff Street was once the home of Mr. Sharon, the first mayor of Plattsburgh. The second floor office space consists of six rooms, has two private parking spaces in the back as well as street parking in the front. The effort has already had generous donations of office furniture, a computer tax program and an ultrasound machine.

Plattsburgh Pregnancy Center, Inc will provide free, confidential services (pregnancy testing and ultrasound), and counseling (including post-abortion support) as well as referrals to local groups such as Birthright, Catholic Charities and Gabriel Project.

The center is open Monday thru Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Wednesdays until 7 p.m.

Current members of the board include Father Pat Mundy, Janice Tobin, Kitty St. Denis, Francine Jolicouer, Ken Racette and David Clark.

When asked what the center needs, Belzile responded “We are aware that operating a crisis pregnancy center is a spiritual battle, so we first ask for your prayers that God will lead us and we will follow Him - our hope and our dream for Plattsburgh Pregnancy Center is to provide real things that will change a mother's mind away from abortion."

The group is currently taking volunteer questionnaires.

If you would like to volunteer, please contact Kitty St. Denis, PPC Office Manager at  kstdenis@charter.net or 518-563-2943. Funding comes strictly through donations.

If you would like to donate please contact Nancy Belzile, nancys_56@hotmail.com or  518-593-6024.