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Feature Article

CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTER
New Facilities Support
“Earn While You Learn” Program

By Alisa Lea Gossage

PALM DESERT — The local Crisis Pregnancy Center, located on San Pablo Avenue in Palm Desert, has acquired new facilities. Since 2000, CPC has been a stronghold for young women who are facing the trials associated with unexpected pregnancies. The new building is located right next door to the CPC’s current home location.

“We’ve been praying for two years for the space next door to open up for us,” said CPC’s Director Julie St. Angelo. Now, through God’s grace, the CPC’s team has been given the opportunity to provide even more helpful tools for Coachella’s growing families.

The front part of the new facility is a “mommy boutique” called Sweet Pea’s Boutique. The retail store is open to the public and sells gently used baby and maternity items – clothes, cribs, strollers, etc. If you would like to donate any items, see the end of this article for contact information.

The back part of the building is being used for parenting classes. “We are currently using a teaching resource called ‘Earn While You Learn,’” Julie said. “Earn While You Learn” features 110 DVD lessons facilitated by parent mentors that teach on the subjects of pregnancy, parenting, self-esteem, biblical principals and many other subjects that help in that daunting endeavor called “parenthood.”

“The program is completely free,” Julie said.

Furthermore, those participating in the program earn “Mommy Money.” Program participants can use their “Mommy Money” to purchase items in the Sweet Pea’s Boutique. But “Mommy Money” aside, “... the main goal of the program is to equip these new mothers with good parenting skills. Many of them are very young. Riverside County has the second highest teen pregnancy rate in the country, and we feel that helping these young women become good parents is beneficial to the whole community,” Julie said.

Still, the center’s main goal is to introduce these families to Christ. That’s why the CPC team is so excited about the expansion. The “Earn While You Learn” program has been a resounding success at other pregnancy centers around the country. “The Pregnancy Solutions and Services Center in Akron, Ohio, had 272 salvations in 2007 through their ‘Earn While You Learn’ program,” Julie said. Her team is very excited by the possibilities.

The CPC needs more volunteers to run these new programs. “We need dedicated mentors who have a heart to help young women. No experience is necessary, volunteers will be trained,” Julie said.

The Crisis Pregnancy Center is located at 44750 San Pablo Avenue in Palm Desert. It is a non-profit, Christian organization. For more information visit their Web site at http://choiceline.org/. You can contact the center at 888-956-HELP (4357). Or you can e-mail them at answers@choiceline.org. For donations or volunteer opportunities call (760) 568-2200. All donations are tax deductible.

Alisa is a Christian freelance writer. She now resides in her old hometown of Carrollton, Texas. She has also written Christian articles and stories for Kirkwood Christian School in Downey, California. When she is not writing, she enjoys spending time with her family, riding horses, and spoiling her adorable nieces and nephews. She has a new blog called Bible Nut. You can check it out at http://BibleNut.ireporter.tv. You can also email her at ChristianInspirations@Hotmail.com. She looks forward to hearing from you.