By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — An unplanned pregnancy is an emotional event, no matter what stage of life you are in. At Open Door Pregnancy Care Center, executive director Neeley Pickard wants prospective parents to know, it's about care, not about judgment.
"Our typical client is 16 to 25 years old," Pickard said. "However, we have a range of moms and dads both that come in for pregnancy tests and different options. We've had a client that was 38 and pregnant, so you never know who is going to walk through our doors."
Open Door provides pregnancy tests and verification, ultrasound to find out where the pregnancy is in gestation, material aid like baby items and things for mom and dad, parenting classes, post abortion recovery, sexual integrity classes, male mentoring classes for dads and referrals to other community resources. All of the services are free.
"No insurance, no nothing, we are just there to support them," Pickard said. "We don't take their money."
Even though Open Door has a faith component, there is no quid pro quo.
"Anybody that walks through our doors, we will serve them," Pickard said. "We're seeing about 30 to 40 clients a week. That may not just be first time visits. We try to get our clients to come back in on a weekly basis to meet with a mentor, so that they have that support person ongoing throughout the pregnancy and even once the baby is born."
The center is open Monday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m, Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 315 West 1st in Hutchinson. If you need help right now, you can call their 24-hour hotline at (800) 712-HELP.