DAR Shines Light on Life Outreach Center

“Our mission is to empower women and men to choose life,” said Cathy Gleason, Chief Executive Officer of Life Outreach Center (LOC), the crisis pregnancy center at 1179 North Hwy. 92, Jefferson City. “We promote healthy families.” Mrs. Gleason spoke at the December meeting of the Martha Dandridge Washington (MDW) Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR), at the First United Methodist Church in Dandridge.

When the LOC was first established, some people mistook it for an abortion provider. On the contrary, it is a Christian organization which offers assistance to women and men through counseling, education (both prenatal and post-natal up until the child’s second birthday), and provision of material needs. Mrs. Gleason explained, “While prolife, we are pro-abundant life.”

Mrs. Gleason quoted some statistics to reveal the scope of loss caused by current abortion laws. Since the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision in 1973, 60 million babies have been aborted in the United States, more than the number of soldiers who have died in all of our wars or the victims who have died from either cancer or heart disease.

At the same time, child abuse has more than tripled in the U.S. “This is not unusual when a country adopts loose abortion laws,” Mrs. Gleason noted. However, she said the people working at the LOC “love on women and help pick up the pieces after a woman has had an abortion.” She reminded her audience that 43% of women in the U.S. are post-abortive, so it is essential to discuss the matter with compassion. “The woman sitting in the pew next to you may have had an abortion,” she added.

One of the focuses of the Center is achieved through their post-abortive support group as the pain of abortion does not suddenly go away after the procedure. It persists, but post-abortive counseling can help mothers and fathers cope. One client finally found closure after 20 years.

The LOC wants fathers to come in, too. They can participate in classes and counseling because the LOC promotes marriage and families. Mrs. Gleason pointed out that, statistically, parents who make the commitment to marriage are more likely to establish relationships that last.

When the Center first opened its doors, many women were attracted by the offer of free pregnancy tests. However, now that pregnancy tests are readily available and inexpensive, women are drawn by the free ultrasounds. Mrs. Gleason said that since a donor gave a large-screen TV, the “mommies” don’t have to look at the small screen on the ultrasound machine. They can see a large, clear image on the TV. When someone considering abortion sees the image of the tiny person with a visible heart beating in his/her tiny chest, they often are moved to choose life. In fact, the percentage of such women choosing life rises from 70% to 90%.

After the baby of a client is born, the LOC gives the “mommy” a tote or diaper bag overflowing with new baby items to help give them both a good start. The Center welcomes donations of such items and of gift cards so that the Center can purchase what is needed. The Center also has a wish list that contains larger items such as car seats, crib mattresses, breast pumps, baby monitors, and Pack ‘n Plays.

Occasionally, the mother and child need temporary housing, and LOC works in cooperation with Samaritan House to provide safe accommodation. Although the LOC does not do adoptions, it does do referrals.

Decisions that clients have to make can be very difficult, but the Center offers a place where they are given hope and affirmation. Sometimes a woman chooses to go through with the abortion, but the LOC responds to her with love. The women are never ostracized.

Mrs. Gleason explained that the Center receives no government funds. They have a Walk for Life in the fall and a fund-raising banquet in the spring. They also sponsor Change for Life that may be held in churches on Mother’s Day or Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. Churches are given baby bottles to distribute; parishioners fill the bottles with change; and the full bottles are collected on the special day and given to the LOC. The Center welcomes donations of money and baby clothes and supplies all year.

Mrs. Gleason said she works full time, and she has an assistant who works two days per week and a Sexual Risk Avoidance (SRA) Director who works one day per week. In addition to that, there are two volunteer nurses who perform ultrasounds. Many volunteers do such work as counseling, sorting baby clothes, and recording data on computers. Those who wish to counsel clients are provided 8-10 hours of training at the Center.

Currently, Sexual Risk Avoidance classes are taught in Jefferson County High School and Patriot Academy. The Center hopes to offer classes in the three middle schools in the future.

Following Mrs. Gleason’s presentation, she received enthusiastic applause and a small mountain of gifts given by members of the MDW chapter.

To contact the Life Outreach Center, call (865) 471-0510 or email: loc@lifeoutreachcenter.net.

For information about the DAR, call MDW Regent Jane Chambers (865) 591-3857 or Registrar Karen McFarland (865) 258-8670.