Care Net Owensboro, a Christian-based organization, recently turned to social media to request specific supplies they need and to let the community know they could drop off donations at their clinic or could go to Amazon online and choose items directly from Care Net Owensboro’s wish list.
“Our numbers have increased dramatically of women seeking care at Care Net,” said Care Net Executive Director, Lisa Hyland. “From January and February of 2018 to January and February of 2019 our ultrasounds have increased by 88 percent. We’re seeing so many more clients.”
In an effort to make it easier for community members to give, the Amazon wish list items can be sent with the click of a button. Donors can fulfill items off the wish list and have those items shipped directly to Care Net. The wish list can be viewed here.
“What we do is we offer compassion, hope and help to young women who find themselves in an unplanned pregnancy or young men and women who suspect they may have been exposed to a sexually transmitted disease,” Hyland said. “The ways we help them is by providing the medical services, but then beyond that, we provide education and resources like diapers, wipes, formula, and other baby supplies.”
Offering prenatal and parenting education, Care Net also educates the youth in the community about abstinence, teaching about purity and also the dangers of STDs. If an expectant mother goes through the entire Care Net education program by meeting weekly with a trained volunteer or staff member, she will receive either a car seat or a brand new baby bed and mattress at the end of the program.
“We do not receive any government aid at all. Every bit of our funding comes through private donations, donations of supplies themselves, through churches and through grants,” Hyland said. “The supplies are given to encourage the young mothers to come back from week to week to receive the education and go through the program. They receive diapers and wipes by just coming. If they do their homework and other extras then they receive items such as baby wash and baby lotion. It incentivizes them to be an active participant in the program.”
Care Net has a new location that is expected to break ground soon at 425 East 18th Street at the former Independence Bank building next to Gene’s Health Food. This will allow the non-profit to expand its footprint in Daviess County and the surrounding area.
“Next Saturday, May 4, we are hosting an open house at our new location and will begin construction,” Hyland said. “We are still currently fundraising but we wanted to host this event for our Care Net supporters to engage in the vision with our future location. We will have free burgers and hotdogs and tours of the building. The event is open to the public and all are welcome.”
According to Hyland, it is Care Net’s desire to empower and help women have all of the information that is available to them before making a critical decision about their health.
“We have clients complete an evaluation at the end of their visit and over and over again we see the same terminology, ‘I felt loved. Thank you for not judging me. Thank you for providing me with information. I have hope now,’” Hyland said. “We have clients that come back to us that have finished our program and they come back and they just visit. They create a strong bond with many of the staff members at Care Net. It’s inspiring to work here, the staff is incredible, they are committed and they love our clients.”
Every service available by Care Net is free and confidential. Their services include free ultrasounds, pregnancy testing, STD testing and treatment and other services as available.
Care Net is an Amazon Smile recipient where a portion of an Amazon users purchase price can go directly to Care Net.
Further information about services available at the nonprofit can be viewed here.
Items Care Net needs are baby wipes, baby wash, lotion and newborn diapers. Those wishing to drop off items can do so Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 922 Triplett Street.
