North Carolina Senator Kevin Corbin worked with NC House Rep Mike Clampitt to identify community needs in Swain County being met by non-profits that could benefit from the Senate’s local project reserve fund allotted to individual Senators.
The NC Senate District 50 discretionary funding was approximately $700,000, and Sen. Corbin gave $25,000 last week to Life Choice Pregnancy Care Center Western North Carolina to cover the general operating costs of the non-profit.
“With the overturning of Roe vs Wade on the federal level, the authority regarding abortion legislation was rightfully returned to the states,” said Sen. Corbin. “As lawmakers, we now have more responsibility than ever to protect mothers and babies in our state. North Carolina currently has the most liberal abortion laws. We are seeing more people come from other states to have an abortion in North Carolina. We work at the state level to make changes to protect unborn children. However, it is important to balance that by making sure women have access to the right healthcare and resources to care after giving birth. That is why Senator Jim Burgin and I worked together to expand Medicaid access to women one year postpartum so that women with children are able to care for them properly in the earliest, most vulnerable moments for the mother as well as the child. These funds can be allocated to local organizations such as the Life Choice Pregnancy Care Center to ensure that women in our community have access to resources for healthy births. As my colleagues in the NC General Assembly continue negotiations to fully expand Medicaid, increasing access to health insurance to 600,000 North Carolinians, hopefully, we will soon reach a resolution that will be for the betterment of our entire state.”
Life Choice Pregnancy Center of Western North Carolina was established in September 2021. With help from people, she’s met since her relocation to Bryson City and a Life Launch Grant from Heartbeat International, Pastor Melanie Garuffi and her team provide a great need: assisting women in their community and county with material resources, pregnancy testing, and options consulting. This faith-based nonprofit has trained counselors and provides resources such as formula, baby swings monitors, maternity clothing, and everything else new parents need to start their journey as parents.
Life’s Choice provides “compassionate care, resources, classes, and more.” The organization also offers Earn While You Learn classes, and their boutique, which serves families in the community, was given a name from Scripture — The Sparrow’s Nest.
Life Choice Pregnancy Care Center in Western North Carolina is available Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. or by appointment. The center can be found at 1 River Street, Suite 7 Bryson City.
