Pregnancy Matters

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Pregnancy Matters, Inc., a regional outreach program with offices in Carbondale, Marion and Anna, is opening an office on the third floor of Pinckneyville Community Hospital on Tuesday, Aug. 4.

Pregnancy Matters, Inc. is designed to help families and individuals deal with an untimely pregnancy.

Clients initially receive pregnancy tests and counseling to determine how they will deal with a pregnancy. For example, if the expectant mother is in school, they talk about how she can continue her education. Expectant mothers are also directed to other services, such as the WIC program through their local health department. Follow-up counseling is optional.

Pregnancy Matters also helps prepare for the baby by supplying maternity clothes, baby clothes, food, formula, blankets and diapers. All of the supplies are donated.

The Pinckneyville office does not have anywhere to store larger items like car seats and cribs, but the other offices have more room and carrry those items, as well.

Children's clothing runs from newborn to size 3T. Clothing is available once per season.

Mothers are only able to get diapers three times. The fourth time they ask for diapers, they receive financial counseling.

All of the services of Pregnancy Matters, Inc. are free and confidential said Executive Director Marsha Perfetti. Volunteers sign a confidentiality agreement.

The Carbondale office offers free ultrasound tests. Only the first ultrasound is done at Pregnancy Matters. The following tests are conducted by the mothers' doctor.

"We had some requests from social workers in Perry County to open an office here," Perfetti said. "What we needed to do that was for someone to step up and donate the space. Pinckneyville Hospital generously donated the space."

The Pinckneyville office of Pregnancy Matters, Inc. will be open From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It will be staffed by Gayle Vandiver, of Pinckneyville.

Vandiver has been volunteering with Pregnancy Matters, Inc. for the past 12 years. She was inspired to volunteer by a church sermon on the sanctity of life all those years ago.

In addition to manning the office, she does much of the computer work for the organization.

Pregnancy Matters is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation which means that all donations are tax deductible. Donations may be made online at pregnancymatters.org. An e-mailed receipt is sent directly to online donors.

Other donations of food, formula, clothing and other baby-related items are also appreciated. Please call 318-1187 to arrange for pick-up.

The major fund-raiser for Pregnancy Matters, Inc. is a walk-a-thon held in March each year. The event venue alternates between the Carbondale and Marion malls. The event raised about $30,000 this year.

The outreach program also receives grants from the Human Life Foundation, the Southern Illinois United Way and the Poshard Foundation for Children.

Pregnancy Matters Inc. has conducted a five-day, abstinence-based sex education program in 20 local schools, including Pinckneyville Community High School, for the last 10 years.

The grant that pays for the sex education program was cut, but the program will continue on a slightly smaller scale in Pinckneyville, Perfetti said.

Pregnancy Matters, Inc. has a good relationship with other area service providers. One of the most helpful services they provide is a list of resources for expectant mothers.

For more information about Pregnancy Matters, Inc. or to schedule an appointment call (618)318-1187.