Story by Randy Porter
LINCOLN (SNR) - The new Women’s Care Center in Lincoln, across the street from Planned Parenthood, offers clients the services, love and support they need to choose life for their babies.
The center officially opened its doors Dec. 7. Located at 5632 S. 48th St., the facility accepts both walk-ins and appointments.
“At WCC, we want to empower every client to see beyond her immediate circumstances and make choices based on an abiding hope that she is profoundly valuable,” said Sarah Kroner, Women’s Care Center director/RN.
No woman is alone, and each possesses the intrinsic and unique ability to love and parent her child well, Kroner said. For the vast majority of women served, choosing life is a process and the center’s counselors remain a part of that process before, during and after a woman learns she is pregnant.
Women’s Care Center is the nation’s largest, most life-saving Catholic pregnancy resource center. The new Lincoln location is the 33rd center in the 12th state. The centers offer free ultrasounds, pregnancy tests and skilled counselors. Women’s centers serve more than 30,000 women each year.
Miracles continue to happen at Women’s Care Center locations throughout the country. In communities the centers serve, abortions decline.
History
After Kroner completed nursing school in Illinois, she felt called to serve moms and babies at the Women’s Care Center in Peoria.
Working next door to the regional abortion facility, Kroner witnessed one miracle after another. Often, a woman headed to the abortion clinic would instead come to Women’s Care Center, where she found the love and support to choose life.
“I saw firsthand all of the wonderful and beautiful ways Women’s Care Center touched countless lives,” said the ultrasound nurse. “I didn’t know how I could possibly leave Women’s Care Center, but my family was moving to Lincoln and I wanted to be there, too.”
After much thought and prayer, Kroner felt God calling her to bring Women’s Care Center and its mission with her to Lincoln, she said. With the help of generous donors, a building located across from the abortion clinic was secured in December, 2019.
Nationwide, the first center was founded in 1984 by Dr. Janet Smith, a Notre Dame professor.
Dr. Smith did something revolutionary for that time: she located the women’s center next to an abortion clinic. During its first year, with no marketing and one small sign outside, she and her staff cared for 300 women.
In addition to free pregnancy tests and ultrasounds, the centers offer one-on-one counseling, referrals for prenatal care and practical assistance free of charge.
Moms – and dads – not only get information at parenting classes provided by Women’s Care Center, but they also receive diapers and earn coupons to spend on baby items in the on-site “Crib Club” store, Kroner said. It’s often referred to as a hand-up, and not a hand out. The counselors at the center walk with women every step of their journey, and offer the women ways to become successful mothers.
Support
“This community has been incredible,” she said about the center’s development and opening in Lincoln.
“So many wonderful people saw the need for Women’s Care Center here in Lincoln and stepped up in support,” Kroner said. “The center opened because so many wonderful people contributed.
“When the first abortion-minded woman walks through our doors and chooses life, it will be because of the help of contributors and supporters,” she said.
Going forward, with the leadership of the center’s local board, including Bishop James Conley and Archbishop George Lucas, center advocates hope the support will continue. Each day, abortion-minded women walk through WCC doors, “and every single woman, needs heroes like those who support the center – today, tomorrow and for years to come,” Kroner said.
“Our hope is to continue to garner enough support to be able to serve the women and families in this community for generations,” she added.
The beautiful thing about this mission is everyone can help, she said. People can pray for the women and families the center serves.
“Pray for their hearts and their unborn babies,” Kroner said. People also can be advocates. “Tell friends and family about the wonderful work of Women’s Care Center.”
People can also support the center financially, she said. Just $83 helps one woman receive counseling and ultrasound — tools necessary to help that woman choose life.
“Prayers, advocacy and support mean more than you know,” said the registered nurse. “We can’t wait to share stories of the women and families supporters helped so much. Many of the babies we share wouldn’t be here, without that support.”
Not only does the center offer free services for pregnant women, but it helps throughout pregnancy and long after the baby is born, Kroner said. That support leads to healthier babies, creating nurturing parents and building loving families. The WCC offers classes for moms and dads to learn anything and everything they need to become a confident parent while gaining the support from others who may be in similar situations.
“Our most exciting class is named Raising Kids with Character,” the director said. “This class teaches our moms and dads practical way to instill virtuous traits within their young children – patience, kindness, creativity, peace, respect and hope. And each class has a corresponding children’s book to further instill the messages at home all while nurturing a love of reading.”
For more information or to help, visit womenscarecenter.org or contact Kroner at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (531) 500-4981. All gifts are tax-deductible and go directly to Women’s Care Center in Lincoln.
