By Diane Freeby
LINCOLN (SNR/WCC) – As the saying goes, if it plays in Peoria, it will play anywhere.
After Sarah Kroner completed nursing school in that midwestern city, she felt called to serve moms and babies at the local Women’s Care Center. Working next door to the regional abortion location, Kroner witnessed one miracle after another: often, a woman heading to the abortion clinic would instead come to Women’s Care Center.
“I saw firsthand all of the wonderful and beautiful ways that Women’s Care Center touched countless lives,” Kroner explained. “I think that one of the most extraordinary characteristics about Women’s Care Center is the abundance of hope it gives to women. Hope for women who are scared and facing unplanned pregnancy that there is a better way.”
Founded in 1984 by a University of Notre Dame professor, Women’s Care Center is now the largest Catholic pregnancy resource center in the United States, with 32 centers in 11 states.
Primarily through word-of-mouth referral, pregnant women come for a pregnancy test or ultrasound. What develops is a trusting relationship between each young woman and her counselor.
For the vast majority of women served, choosing life is a process and counselors remain a part of that process before, during and after a woman learns she is pregnant. Women’s Care Center offers more than free pregnancy tests and ultrasounds. One-on-one counseling, referrals for prenatal care and practical assistance are also offered free of charge. Moms – and dads – not only get information at parenting classes provided by Women’s Care Center, but they receive diapers and earn coupons to spend on baby items in the on-site Crib Club store. It’s often referred to as a hand-up and not a hand out.
Kroner served as an ultrasound nurse and counselor at the Peoria center for just over a year when she learned her entire family was moving to Lincoln.
“I didn’t know how I could possibly leave Women’s Care Center,” she recalled. “I absolutely loved what I did there, the counselors I worked with, the clients I had met and worked with. The Center’s mission was incredibly close to my heart.”
After much thought and prayer, Kroner said, she felt God was calling her to do two things. She joined her family and moved west, and for the past year has been working to bring Women’s Care Center and its mission along with her to Lincoln.
With the help of her new neighbors and generous donors, a building located across from the abortion clinic was secured in December 2019, at 5632 S. 48th St., and fundraising began a few months ago.
“The support so far from the Lincoln community has been very encouraging,” she said. “Unfortunately, we had to put in-person presentations and meetings on hold because of the pandemic. These had been most helpful in raising awareness and also for raising funds needed for renovations.”
Kroner said she is looking forward to meeting with more people who share her passion for helping moms and babies.
“We’ve raised over $110,000 so far,” she said. “We need to raise approximately $190,000 more for the renovation before we can start construction.”
Meanwhile, miracles continue to happen at Women’s Care Center locations throughout the country.
In every community where Women’s Care Center serves, abortions decline and abortion clinics close. In South Bend, Indiana, a city similar in size to Lincoln, abortions have declined 75%.
Back in Peoria, the abortion clinic next door has since closed its doors. Today, 1 in 5 babies born in Peoria County start with Women’s Care Center.
More information is available at supportwomenscarecenter.org.
