Jan 25, 2022

St. Joseph Pregnancy Resource Clinic to give away maternity clothes this weekend

Posted Jan 25, 2022 5:24 PM
Racks of maternity clothes at the Pregnancy Resource Clinic maternity closet/ Photo provided by Libby Owens
Racks of maternity clothes at the Pregnancy Resource Clinic maternity closet/ Photo provided by Libby Owens

By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post

The St. Joseph Pregnancy Resource Clinic will hold a maternity clothes giveaway this weekend at the St. Joseph clinic.

Executive Director Libby Owens says the clinic provides crisis clinics in both St. Joseph and Cameron, helping women at no cost through their pregnancy.

But what exactly is a pregnancy crisis?

"A lot of times, crisis just means it's overwhelming, and it can be that way. But, again, the community has said this is so important that we provide a service to women. We've been doing this since 1998, and the last couple years just been offering the crisis pregnancy clinic also in Cameron," Owens tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "Last year, we helped over 170 women just in our clinic."

Owens says the Pregnancy Resource Clinic is completely community funded by individuals, businesses and churches in the St. Joseph area.

Owens says clinic workers see women come from all over, not just northwest Missouri. Last year, the St. Joseph clinic saw more than 170 women come through its door.

Owens says the clinic was not exempt from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, seeing a decline in appointments as well as not having as many opportunities for women to come to the clinic.

"The crisis continued, even while there was a pandemic. Women were still facing really hard times, and yet, some of the appointments, maybe we weren't having as many calls as normal, and that's just because people weren't socializing. They weren't out and about as much," Owens explains. "Just within the last six to eight months, we've seen that sort of increase."

Owens says the clinic seeks to help women feel calm as they consider their decision, even with the effects of the pandemic piling on top of each other, complicating their pregnancy.

The St. Joseph Pregnancy Resource Clinic will hold a maternity clothes giveaway Friday and Saturday.

Owens says the maternity closet is just in its third year of existence at the clinic. The idea came from some of her workers at one of the clinic retreats.

"And I looked at them like, 'Are you kidding? Are we going to have enough clothes?' I was just imagining one little rack and a line of women that wanted to come for one little rack," she says.

But Owens says in the first year of the maternity closet, more than 400 items donated. She couldn't believe it.

"So, when that happened, I realized, this is important. No excuses now, we have the clothes," Owens says. "So, we continually have items going out the door, but we are always getting more donations in."

Owens says when that process is happening on its own in an organic way, it reaffirms her belief the service is one that is needed.

The clothes giveaway at the clinic is by appointment. Call 816-387-8090 to set an appointment.

You can find more information HERE.