By Paige Gurgainers
A pregnancy test can answer a question and an ultrasound can offer a first glimpse, but for a woman unsure of what comes next, having someone listen and stay beside her can mean just as much.
That sense of belonging was at the heart of SEEDS Women’s Center’s annual fundraising banquet, where the theme, “Home Is Where the Heart Is,” reflected what Executive Director Amber Bradford hopes women and families find when they walk through the center’s doors.
“SEEDS is home to so many women and families in our community,” Bradford said.
Supporters gathered Oct. 6 at the Minden Civic Center for an evening that included emcee Marnie Gregg and comedian Tim Lovelace. Laughter was a huge part of the program balancing heart wrenching reminders of the difficult circumstances that bring families to SEEDS.
Bradford shared the organization’s work over the past 24 months: 410 client visits, 287 pregnancy tests and 390 ultrasounds. Sixty-one clients enrolled in parenting classes during that period. She also reported that SEEDS helped save 71 babies over those two years.
Those figures describe services provided, but a client’s recorded testimony helped show what that support can mean to a family.
A SEEDS client recalled being nine months pregnant after she and her husband had lost their jobs and home. They were staying with friends when they found this program. There, they received a welcoming response and supplies for their baby but more importantly they found support she described as a turning point in their lives.
Her experience gave the evening’s theme a human face. Home can be a place to bring a worry, ask for help and find someone willing to listen.
Bradford said the heart of SEEDS extends to every person who makes that welcome possible.
“I believe the heart of SEEDS is found in every woman we serve, every baby we protect, every volunteer who gives their time, every person who prays, and every donor who says, ‘I believe in this mission and I want to be part of it,’” she said.
Minden Mayor Nick Cox spoke during the program, which also included a video message from House Speaker Mike Johnson about the difference SEEDS makes in local communities.
The center’s support continues beyond a pregnancy appointment. SEEDS provides free parenting education, counseling and baby supplies, along with pregnancy testing and ultrasounds. It also assists foster families and others caring for young children.
This year’s banquet carried a $100,000 fundraising goal to help sustain that work.
For those who were unable to attend, the opportunity to be part of the mission remains. Donations can still be made at seedswomenscenter.com, helping SEEDS continue to offer women and families a place to turn when they need support.
