Pictured from left to right are the hostesses of the baby shower held at First Baptist Church Sevierville. Jessica Brewer, Cynthia Grantham, Lisa Wyrick, Rebecca Latta, Candy Ward, Karen Price and Laura Boling.
Since 1990, the Women’s Care Center of Sevier County, Inc. (WCC) has served women and their families in the greater Sevier County area facing unintended pregnancies by offering free pregnancy tests, education, resources, community referrals and peer-counseling. Countless families have benefited from one-time donations of diapers, formula or baby clothes in emergency situations. To further assist expectant women parenting classes, peer-counseling, mentoring and prayers are provided by volunteers and staff who have taken on the challenge to provide life-changing hope to each person who comes through the door. The WCC has been providing services at the sweet little white house at the intersection of 304 Eastgate Road, Park Road and Belle Avenue in Sevierville since 2001. A new journey now begins for the WCC.
With great excitement, the WCC is pleased to announce the opening of a second center that is located at 118 Marine Way in Seymour, TN. Opening day was February 2, 2015, and the same free services are being provided as at the Sevierville center. Plans are to convert the pregnancy resource center to a pregnancy medical center later this year. “The mission of the WCC is to engage in the life of the community by empowering individuals and families to make healthy, life-affirming choices regarding pregnancy and reproductive health,” stated Billie Jeanne Peattie, Chairman of The Board of Directors for the WCC.
The community has rallied around the opening of the center with the recent acknowledgement of Sanctity of Human Life Sunday that took place on January 18, 2015 where several Sevier County churches joined with congregations across the country to remember National Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, a day of observance declared by several U.S. Presidents. President Ronald Reagan designated January 22, 1984 as the first National Sanctity of Human Life Day. In support of the WCC, churches showed an informative video entitled “The Difference Is Life” that stirred the emotions across the county causing several to call the WCC and say they want to become volunteers for the ministry. Many churches took up an offering to assist the WCC to carry out its mission and move toward its vision for the residents of Sevier County.
First Baptist Church of Sevierville took it a step further and held a “Baby Shower” that afternoon where members of the congregation brought baby items to benefit WCC clients. Many of the items will be used in the layettes provided for each expectant mom who participates in the parenting classes throughout her pregnancy.
On January 15, 2015, the WCC held an appreciation dinner to show gratitude to the many community volunteers who helped in the remodeling of the building. The dinner was held at the WCC Seymour location so the volunteers could see “the finished product” before it was opened to the public.
This new journey for the WCC is exciting. Never before has our community had a pregnancy medical resource center. The Seymour Knights of Columbus is holding a fundraising event on April 12, 2015 and will donate all proceeds toward the purchase of an ultrasound machine for the WCC. The WCC is so eager to be able to offer free sonograms to the women who have a positive pregnancy test result.
For more information on the Women’s Care Center of Sevier County, Inc. you may visit them online at www.wccsevier.org or call their Sevierville office at 865.428.4673 or their Seymour office at 865.223.7771.
