Pregnancy Resource Center Moves From Groton to New London

A resource center for women with unexpected pregnancies has started providing services from a Huntington Street location.

Lisa Maloney, executive director of the CareNet Pregnancy Resource Center, said the nonprofit organization used to be located in a shopping center on Long Hill Road in Groton. Maloney said the New London office is more centralized for New London County clients; closer to partner organizations such as TVCCA, , and the ; and less costly than the Groton location.

“We cut our overhead in half,” she said.

The center moved to 32 Huntington Street and opened on Sept. 6, the day before Tropical Storm Irene came through the region. Maloney said that despite the initial disruption caused by the storm, including the loss of phone service, people soon started visiting to use the available services. She said the staff will evaluate the number of clients and may be able to expand services.

The center is one of eight in Connecticut and more than 1,100 nationwide run by CareNet. It provides free services such as pregnancy tests, ultrasound, and parenting classes. CareNet encourages alternatives to abortions and does not provide the service or referrals for it, but does offer counseling for men and women who have decided to have an abortion.

“We provide information on all of their options, and we support them no matter what they choose,” said Maloney.

One of the major services provided is support in getting women onto state insurance if they are uninsured. The center also supports women through supplies such as diapers, baby clothes, and larger items such as cribs and mattresses when they are available. It offers referrals to other services as needed such as housing and job training.

Maloney said the center is not supported by federal or state funds, and holds four major fundraisers each year. A walkathon is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at Eastern Point Beach in Groton, and a golf tournament will take place on Oct. 15 at Pequot Golf Course in North Stonington. Dr. Alveda King, the niece of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., will speak at another fundraising event scheduled for March.

Maloney said people can contribute to the center with donations of baby materials such as diapers, wipes, and new baby clothes. People may also volunteer for fundraising events and participation on the organization’s committees.