Bring us your ONESIES!!

First Way is in great need of ONESIES right now! We need more baby clothes in general. Have your little ones outgrown theirs? Or do you have a few extra dollars, when you're out shopping, to pick up a few?

We put onesies in the layettes for our new mothers when they have their babies, to help welcome them into the world. They don't have to be cute like the pictures I put here, just small and snuggly. They can be plain white as long as they don't have stains. We don't give stained clothes to our clients.

We also need volunteers. 

Looking for something charitable to do this holiday season? Consider us! 

 

We love babies and their mamas too.

 

Babies are us!

 

Do something special this Christmas...

 

even if it's just 

 

one onesie! 

  

 

 

We're Looking for Professionals to Volunteer!

Have a few extra hours in your week? Looking for something to do that will add more meaning and purpose to your life? We have many ways to use your unique talents and special skills through volunteer opportunities.

1^st Way volunteers share a passion for helping mothers who are faced with making difficult decisions regarding the lives of their unborn children. In order to carry out our purpose, many activities need to be done “behind the scenes” to make it possible for 1^st Way to grow, thrive and serve more women in our community.

Specifically, we are seeking people with skills in many areas of talent, especially including-

*fundraising

*grant research

*grant writing

*grant proofing

*social media

*blogging

*event organizing

*social networking

*marketing

*designing ads and brochures

*creative thinkers

*community service volunteering

***Mail Merge (If you can do mail merge, we will love you forever!)*

If you have any of these skills and would be willing to donate at least 4 hours per month toward helping 1^st Way, he will be happy to talk with you about how we can make the best use of your talents. 

1st Way grows and thrives each time we involve a new volunteer and his or her passion to our team!

Email laurapaxton3@gmail.com

We look forward to hearing from you!

Thank you!

1st Way Needs Volunteers- Join us!

When I volunteered for 1st Way of Eugene, I found it to be a mind-expanding and heart-expanding experience.

I didn't know that much about pregnancy or pro-life issues. I remember the day Terry hired me, she stacked my arms up with brochures and articles and said, "Take this home and read this!" Of course, she didn't mean to read it all at once. She only wanted me to have the resources I needed to counsel women who had questions, and that learning still continues to this day.

Part of my training was simply to answer questions- never to give unsolicited education or information. Working there, I was happy to see that fellow counselors were warm and positive and just trying to find ways to be helpful. No family support? Financial struggles? Healthcare concerns? How can we connect women to the resources they need? How can we be there for her when she is scared and upset and just wants someone to talk to? How can we help make her life a little better?

Being a crisis pregnancy counselor at 1st Way is about being an educator when women have questions. Working for 1st Way was also heart-expanding for me.  I saw some happy women who realized it was possible to find resources they needed to carry their babies to term. I loved putting together layettes for new mothers and getting to know people.

Being a volunteer at 1st Way is only a three hour commitment per week and all training is provided. I knew nothing when I started and now I can't seem to learn enough information. It's really satisfying to know that you are serving the needs of pregnant women and their unborn babies. Ultimately, you don't know the decision she will make when she walks out the door. But, you will know that you told her the truth and showed her it is possible to find life-affirming ways to cope with unplanned pregnancy.

CALL 541.687.8651 to find out more about how you can help.

1st Way Needs Volunteers!

1st Way needs  volunteers! 

Volunteers at first way can counsel pregnant women, do data entry, put together layettes and many other things! The minimum commitment for a pregnancy counselor is only three hours a week. For other jobs, no ongoing commitment is required.

1st Way especially needs people who do good work on computers and who can do data entry. We have many projects that we need help with, including mailing list merging (using Excel). If you have a talent and would like to come by and help us one day, we'd love to have you come by!

1st Way especially invites bilingual women and younger women to volunteer, although  any age is welcomed and you do not have to be bilingual to apply.

Just give us a call at (541) 687-8651 or email us at firstwayeugene@gmail.com

We'll be happy just to let you know more about us to help you get a sense of whether you'd like to join our team.

Saving lives AND making women's lives better- Nothing is more satisfying work!

Help Us-Political Action Urgently Needed

Hello all First Way Supporters, 

Are you familiar with Senate Bill 490? 

 

If it passes, crisis pregnancy centers will have to publicly advertise and place notices in conspicuous places that we do not offer abortion or abortion referrals. This is even though we receive no government funding and do not deliberately deceive anyone. However, if we are required to provide that information, many women who might have considered alternatives to abortion will not have those alternatives presented to them.

Senate Bill 490...

• …  is an unconstitutional infringement upon free speech rights because it compels pregnancy centers to say words they would not otherwise say and regulates speech NOT conduct. 
• …  is overly broad and does not address any documented problem the state has a compelling interest in addressing.
• …  applies to all covered pregnancy centers regardless of any wrongdoing.
• …  violates due process principles because it does not adequately define the entities who are affected and it invites arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement.
• …  targets small community-based nonprofit organizations that do not receive any state or federal funds.
• …  is part of a national campaign that is based upon differences in ideology and uses unsubstantiated accusations.
• …  forces a business to list services they do not offer for the first time in Oregon history.
• …  requires “conspicuously placed” written notices that “a reasonable person is likely to read and understand”.  These terms are unconstitutionally vague.
• …  requires that a notice be placed on any website maintained by the entity providing the services for any purpose if the services are even incidentally mentioned.
• …  requires that medical professionals to be paid for their services and denies them the right to voluntarily provide services in their community.
• …  increases state costs for OHA rule promulgation, compliance investigation, and enforcement with no demonstration that it addresses any harm to Oregon citizens.

(information taken from  http://www.oregonpregnancycenters.org/oregonpregnancycenters.org/Home.html)

This information below comes from Debbie, Executive Director, Pregnancy Alternatives Center-

Here's what you can do:

SB490 has been scheduled for hearing Monday!

Yes this Monday @ 3pm.

Statewide conference call TOMORROW @9am

Call (605) 475-4700  Enter code: 847627#

Please DO THE FOLLOWING:

·       Get every person you can to be at the capital Monday @2:00 to be present at the 3:00 hearing. We need a mass showing. If you have to close, then do it. This showing if VERY IMPORTANT. We all understand it is not convenient. Oh well, convenience is not the issue. PLEASE hear us… YOU NEED TO BE THERE!
·       IMMEDIATELY, I MEAN IMMEDIATELY you need to contact all of your constituents and have them call their Senators and Representatives. We need a massive call campaign. Basically you need to say… Please do not support SB490. Every woman deserves the right to alternative services. Also call Senate President Peter Courtney. All the numbers are at www.oregonpregnancycenters.org.
·       Most importantly this is the time to get the prayer warriors activated.

Please be on the call tomorrow at 9:00 am.

Debbie

Merry Christmas from 1st Way!

Merry Christmas 
from 1st Way!

We at 1st Way wish you a very merry Christmas and all of the peace and joy of the season.

Would you like to help with fundraising?

Let's have fun and raise money for 1st Way!

1st Way will be celebrating 40 years of service to the communities of Eugene and Springfield. 1st Way is a pregnancy center dedicated to protecting and saving the lives of pre-born babies and supporting their moms in crisis.

When a woman comes to 1st Way distressed by an unplanned pregnancy, 1st Way volunteers offer reassuring support and friendship to help her make the most important decision of her life.  After the birth of her child, we provide free help with needs such as diapers, clothing, and equipment.  Most of all, we offer hope so that pregnant woman can choose life for their babies.

After 40 years of serving, we need help to find fresh ideas for raising funds and help to organize these efforts.  Are you experienced in fundraising? Let us know.  Do you like to organize and help with events?  Come talk to us. Do you just like to help out? No experience necessary. With your help we can go on into the future!

Leave a comment here or email firstwayeugene@gmail.com

1st Way and St. Mary Pro-Life Ministry Announcements

Hello and Good Morning, All!

This morning, I'd like to make a couple of important announcements.

(1) 1st Way is looking for volunteers. Volunteers do all sorts of jobs, from counseling women in crisis to putting layettes together (cute baby clothes!) Usual time commitment is only about three hours a week. The rewards are immeasurable. Be a part of a group of women who deeply care about women, babies and families. All of us have no idea what to say or do at first. So, don't worry! Training is provided. You'll learn SO much you never knew before and gain confidence in helping. Contact 541-687-8651 to schedule an interview with the director.

(2) Mark your calendars for a very special event next Thursday, October 25, 7:30 pm at St. Mary Catholic Church in Eugene, Oregon!

St. Mary’s Gospel of Life/Pro-Life Ministry is presenting a program called, "Silent No More." The special guest speaker will be Fr. Eric Andersen. Also, there will be testimonies from men and women who have been impacted by abortion. There will be a reception in the Parish Center after the meeting and the Hanson Family Singers will perform. All are welcome.