The Liberty Belles supporting W2W at their fundraiser (photo by Lisa Gollihar)
Machelle Burtless
As part of their mission to support charitable conservative causes, a group of ladies from the Liberty Belles toured the Woman to Woman (W2W) Pregnancy Resource Center in Denton. The W2W Pregnancy Resource Center provides life-affirming pregnancy care, free resources, education, and compassionate support with unconditional love to women, men, and families in need in the Denton area. Provided services include pregnancy and STI testing; information on abortion, adoption, and parenting options; childbirth and parenting classes; an onsite RN to answer questions about health, reproduction, and pregnancy; referrals to doctors and other community resources; and confidential counseling for those struggling physically and emotionally in post-abortion recovery. An Earn and Learn program allows parents-to-be to earn vouchers for every educational class they attend at the W2W Center. These vouchers can be redeemed at the Center for items such as diapers, wipes, and clothing. For operating funds, the Pregnancy Resource Center relies on both charitable donations and a resale store (Twice as Nice), which sells upscale donated items, with proceeds from the store going to benefit the Center. These proceeds, as well as funds raised at their annual fundraising banquet, allow the W2W Pregnancy Resource Center to provide all their goods and programs free to the community!
The Liberty Belles have begun actively supporting this worthy organization. At the September Republican Club meeting, a Needs List was distributed and a month-long donation drive began in order to provide resources for W2W. Items on the Needs List included diapers, newborn grooming kits, baby shampoo, baby wash, car seats and strollers, baby bouncy seats, and child and maternity clothes. Republican Club members donated 1,206 diapers in six sizes; new baby clothes, including sleepers, bibs, coordinating outfits; baby wash and shampoo; toys; teethers; baby utensils; and $340 in monetary donations.
On Sept. 27 the Liberty Belles worked behind the scenes to help set up the W2W Empowering You 36th Anniversary Fundraising Banquet for 500 attendees at the Denton Convention Center. This event featured Shawn Carney, author and CEO of 40 Days of Life, as the keynote speaker. In addition, the Liberty Belles have dedicated one day per month as a Volunteer Workday at the Twice as Nice resale store. Starting in November, these workdays will be on the second Thursday of each month. We welcome any women of the Republican Club who would like to make a difference for life to join us on these workdays.
If you have questions or would like to join the Belles in this mission, contact Lisa Gollihar at [email protected], or Judy Martin-Tafoya at [email protected], to fill out required volunteer documents. We would welcome your help!