Sometimes becoming a parent can be exciting, a blessing, maybe even a miracle, but it can also be overwhelming, expensive, and difficult, especially if you don’t have support.
Becoming a parent for the first time looks different for everyone; it can be harder for some than others. But just remember you do have options, and before feeling hopeless and giving up, don’t. Instead call the Hope Center, a local pregnancy resource center located in Greeneville that will be that listening ear when you most need it, a lending hand during hard times, and a center that offers educational classes, medical services like ultrasounds, pregnancy tests, and other resources.
Hope Center, established in 1998, is located across the country and internationally. The Executive Director Pam Crank interviewed with Radio Greeneville and expressed their goal with parents is to meet them at their point of need. The center provides over hundreds of different classes not only for moms but for dads too, because the Hope Center doesn’t neglect the fact that dads need help too, and are also trying their best when raising their babies.
There are parenting classes on education, basic infant care, stress management, classes on the importance of reading to your child, car seat safety, infant CPR, and classes for milestones, sharing information on what you should expect from your child as they grow.
The Hope Center is there for you from the beginning until whichever point they are needed. Radio Greeneville’s interview with Executive Director Pam Crank got deep, close, and personal. The work Hope Center does is rewarding and truly life changing because they understand that sometimes you just need someone to listen, and a little bit of love.
Consider it your peace of haven as Pam Crank says and know you won’t be judged, and there are no stupid questions. At the Hope Center, don’t expect a hand out, but you can expect to learn the skills you need to know in order to succeed and feel good enough to do it on your own.
The Hope Center is under the umbrella and is an affiliate of Care Net and Heartbeat International. The Hope Center’s medical services are under the direction of Dr. Howard Harrell, a local OBGYN in the area, according to Crank. The nurse is an RN, who provides the pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, assists with any medical questions regarding pregnancy, educates parents on nutrition, prenatal check ups, etc. It’s a team full of people that want to make a change and volunteers are always welcome. Crank says they couldn’t do what they do without the volunteers, who are all trained and go through a background check.
The staff at Hope Center includes Brittany Adams, Client Service Director, Adrienne Hengel, Administrative Assistant, and Brittany Hampton, Nurse Manager.
At their maternity home, Honeysuckle Studios, the staff members are Jessica Stevens, House Manager, Karen Travis, Case Manager, and Carrie McCaslin and Tracy Rodriguez as Residential Assistants.
Donations are welcome at the center (HopeCenterGreeneville.com) as they are funded by private individuals, some businesses and churches. Crank says the center is funded by people who believe in what they do. The center can also apply for community grants when they are available. Donations should either be brand new or gently used, because if you don’t want it on your baby, they don’t want it on their baby either. Visit their website for more information or call 423-638-5433.
