The Pregnancy Care Center of Oswego County held its third annual 5K walk on Sept. 30 at Breitbeck Park in Oswego.
The Pregnancy Care Center hosts this event to raise money for the center and also raise awareness for the options that pregnant women have. Though this is only the third annual 5K, the event has actually been going on for the past six years. Before it was a 5K, the event was just a walk to help raise money for the center.
Theresa Wilkins, the executive director of the Pregnancy Care Center, said they switched because their supporters indicated that they would rather do a 5k than just a walk.
The Pregnancy Care Center serves all of Oswego County. They offer services including free pregnancy tests and over 90 free classes on pregnancy stages, life skills and parenting, called “Earn While You Learn.” They also offer first aid, discipline, fatherhood and Bible study classes. Anyone seeking assistance relating to pregnancy or a past abortion will receive it from their trained advocates. They will listen to everyone’s concerns and questions as well as discuss all options.
Another program that the Pregnancy Care Center offers is the “Mentor Money” program. Through this program, new mothers can receive free supplies like diapers, wipes, formula, clothing, high chairs and baby swings. This center also refers people to community resources, such as adoption agencies.
Wilkins, who started in her position as director in March, said the Pregnancy Care Center has been around for 32 years.
“We’re a Christian based organization that likes to let women know about other alternatives to abortion,” Wilkins said. “We’ll be here to support you, to help you tell your parents and help you through bad situations that you might be in throughout a pregnancy.”
The Pregnancy Care Center often refers mothers to New Hope in Syracuse, which is a similar center but also has an adoption agency. This adoption agency offers open adoptions, which allows the mother to still see her child, or a closed adoption with no contact with the child.
The Pregnancy Care Center also has a prevention service that goes through many schools in Oswego County. This prevention program is made to inform eighth grade students about safe sex and abstinence.
Allison Olivier, a senior at Oswego State, Allison Olivier participated and volunteered in the 5K.
“My service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega, thought that it would be a great idea to help out at this event and raise money for this organization,” Olivier said. “I wanted to run because I love 5Ks, but I also thought if I’m here volunteering I might as well run to show support for this organization.”
This 5K included a raffle in which runners and walkers could enter their names to win a one-year membership to Planet Fitness, Syracuse University basketball tickets or a one-month membership to the YMCA of Oswego. A gift certificate to Cam’s Pizzeria was also offered in the drawing.
The website of the Pregnancy Care Center states that the center “exists to promote a culture of LIFE in the community,” and “every client is treated in a caring manner, with kindness and compassion.”
