CINCINNATI — The nonprofit Pregnancy Center East is used to helping new parents, but after the coronavirus outbreak, the organization has had to face a slew of new challenges.
"We have parents who, maybe they were cooks or maybe they were daycare workers who have been laid off," Pregnancy Center East's Executive Director Laura Curran said. "[They] re having a hard time getting the formula, diapers, wipes they would normally be able to afford."
We're live this morning at Pregnancy Center East which is still operating and serving more clients than ever before. Director Laura Curran says for many clients, it's the first time they've ever had to ask for help when it comes to baby supplies. @WCPO pic.twitter.com/yIP5OZpWyZ
— Ally Kraemer (@AllyKraemer) April 8, 2020
Now, after the coronavirus caused businesses to let employees go because they weren't making enough money, the Oakley non-profit has had to adapt to helping more new parents than before.
Another major adaptation is they have only 10 volunteers working at once now, thanks to coronavirus restrictions on how many people can be near each other. This is down from the usual 70 volunteers who would work at one time.
Pregnancy Center East also has stopped accepting walk-in clients. People need to call the center at 513-321-3100 to make appointments now.
The non-profit offers a number of services to expecting parents including pregnancy testing, ultrasound, sexually transmitted infection testing and parenting classes.
Pregnancy center East is locally funded and isn't subsidized by the government, so they rely on donations to provide new parents with supplies they need for their newborns. Based on local donations, Pregnancy Center East helps provide diapers, wipes and formula as well as other necessities like strollers, car seats, cribs and baby clothes.
If you would like to make a donation to the center, you can visit their website. You can also drop supplies off during business hours from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday or 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday through Friday. If you do drop supplies off, they ask that you call ahead.
