Changes at 1st Way

I'd like to introduce some changes I think you'll (Hopefully!) like. The first is our change to a new web-site- 

Newly designed and optimized for mobile. Try it on your smartphone. It actually looks a lot like an app on the new phones.

1st-way.org

I'm also including here my interview done with our director Terry, which is being published by halves in this month's newsletter and next month, regarding my new president position with 1st Way. Terry's still director of the center itself, but I'm handling a lot of other admin responsibilities. My new position entails a great deal more responsibility and I am honored and really excited about the challenge!

Why did you choose to volunteer here rather than working for another group?

I had just become Catholic and had a dramatic conversion. I wanted to devote my life to God, but I didn't really know what He wanted from me. I was praying a lot, and asking God what way He most wanted me to serve Him. I had no idea what that would look like. So, I said, “God, I will do the next thing I am asked to do.” So, someone asked me if I wanted to volunteer at 1^st Way. I didn't think I'd be any good at it. Still, I felt God wanted me to do it, so I did. Volunteer counseling wasn't the best fit for me but social media development and helping with other aspects of First Way work was.

What have you enjoyed most about volunteering for first way and serving on the board?

1^st Way has become an integral part of me and who I am. I can say with complete conviction that helping women find ways to give birth rather than abort is the right thing to do and that is critical to our future as a national community. I have a fire inside me now and it burns with the desire to help human life be valued and protected. I love what I do. I'm filled with joy to have found an apostolate that fits well with my principles and abilities.

What is your vision for 1^st Way over the next year?

I would like to discover ways to best utilize the vast talents of our board members and find the assistance we need to be more effective in fund-raising and obtaining a mobile pregnancy clinic. A mobile pregnancy unit will bring us to the women who need us, to make free ultrasound as close as her front door or a shopping center. The mobile unit will help us help more women in more ways.

What have you learned over the past year?

When I started volunteering, I knew almost nothing. I actually thought life in the first trimester was just a bunch of tissue or cells! The more I learned about the truth of biological development, abortion procedures, and Planned Parenthood's dishonest tactics, the more I grew to become a warrior for the cause of pro-life. I became an avid researcher and reader and a strong pro-life apologist. I attended the Right to Life Conference in Portland. I've participated in several marches and pro-life protests. Most of all, I know with all my heart I'm doing what God wants me to do. Serving on the board has been fun because of working creatively with people who have good ideas, to develop plans that can take 1^st Way's mission further. I have great respect and love for my fellow board members and look forward to working with the 1^st Way Organization to expand our vision further to serve more women in need.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Love,

Laura

Why does 1st Way need a mobile clinic?

-Low income women often have transportation problems and we can bring ultrasound right to their door.

-We can go to places where women are shopping for pregnancy tests and offer them a free test on the spot. For example, we can park the mobile unit at or near Walmart.

-We can park across the street from abortion clinics like Planned Parenthood, where women are not offered ultrasound. Some women would like this option and can't find it available at Planned Parenthood, since it is only available there in very limited areas at this time.

-We never have to worry whether our location is convenient to women, because we can vary it and get ourselves out there in all sorts of Eugene communities and business locations.

PLEDGES

Would you like to make a monthly pledge to help 1st Way? We can automatically deduct any amount, even as low as $5 a month (which comes to $60 a year).  We appreciate your support, since we need around $100,000 to make this dream come true and we only raised part of the funds at our recent fundraiser dinner. Contact me and I'll help you set it up.




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Beautiful Day for An Outstanding 40th Anniversary Event!

First Way's 40th Anniversary Celebration Fundraiser, this past Sunday afternoon at River's Edge Events, was a wonderful experience for over 160 guests who attended. The music was beautiful. A string trio opened and was followed by The Poodle Creek Pickers, which played bluegrass music. His eminence, Archbishop Alexander Sample, said our Invocation.

Denise Cocciolone, founder of 1st Way's parent organization, The National Life Center, gave a powerful speech. Our director, Terry Ianora, talked about 1st Way's forty year history and about our hopeful future, bringing a mobile pregnancy clinic right to the places we are most likely to reach women- shopping centers, across from schools, abortion clinics and public parks.

Next, Angela Fellon, one of 1st Way's clients, told her story about how when she was feeling pressured  into abortion, we at 1st Way became her friends, allies in helping her find all the resources and support she needed to keep her child. We continue to help her with things she needs, such as clothing. toys and diapers. Happy today with two children now, Angela glowed as she talked with gratitude to 1st Way for helping her make the best decision of her life- to give birth to her baby.

Angela's talk was followed by Rick Dancer, a journalist, politician and a twenty year anchor for KEZI television in Eugene. Rick gave a rousing talk and generated great enthusiasm from the crowd with both his humor and poignant stories. Pastor Steve Miller of Newsong Church (and longtime board member of 1st Way) gave our closing prayer. 

We're a few steps closer to getting our mobile pregnancy unit, thanks be to God. We're so thankful for all who attended, volunteered and took part in making our event such a great success.

(Photo above is of the Poodle Creek Pickers.)

Help 1st Way Get a Mobile Clinic to Save More Lives

1st Way's fundraiser this coming weekend is because we're trying to get a mobile unit.

(The image to the left is a mobile unit that is similar to the type 1st Way wants, only ours will have a different style and wrap.)

What's that all about? A mobile clinic can take us to where women are instead of just having women come to us. We will show up at convenient places and bring them help and information they need.

Imagine you are a young girl worried you might be pregnant, so you pull into Walmart to buy a pregnancy test. As soon as you park, you see a van that advertised not only free pregnancy tests, but free ultrasounds and counseling, too. So, you decide to check it out.

Inside, you are greeted by a friendly counselor who offers you some cool water or hot tea. You can tell right away that you are surrounded by non-judgmental support and caring about you as a person as well as for your child, and counselors will try to do anything possible to help solve problems that may stand in the way of your ability to give birth to your child.

Imagine stepping into a van and being able to see your baby's heart beat within your first hour's visit. How will this influence the way you feel about the life growing inside you? 

1st Way intends to take our van all over Eugene, parking in different neighborhoods, office complexes, shopping centers and parks. We'll also park across from Planned Parenthood on occasion.

Explore these links:

This short one minute video is a great introduction to the mobile clinic concept and what it looks like in action.

Take a look at a video of a  mobile clinic in Rockford Illinois. The ultrasound tech takes us on a tour of the unit to look at the equipment there. 

We need @$100,000 to make this dream a reality.

40th Anniversary Celebration this August 4 is only the beginning of our fundraising efforts.

Contact us if you'd like to come to our banquet. We may have reduced or donated tickets available, if we hear from you soon. Pass the word around to others, too. Email me at laurapaxton3@gmail.com or visit 1st-way.org for event information and to pay via PayPal.

We hope to see you there!