Life Care Pregnancy Center of Carthage, North Carolina, holds an Appreciation Luncheon for volunteers and reports on LCPC progress

The Life Care Pregnancy Center of Carthage, N.C., held its annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon in the fellowship hall of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Southern Pines, N.C., at 11:30 a.m., Thursday, December 5, 2013. Twenty-six people attended the meeting.

Some ladies listen during the LCPC luncheon. Below are scenes from the luncheon. The story follows these photos. 

 

 

 

Naye Ramirez Campuzano, LCPC’s client services director, addresses the group, while an empty stroller sits in the fellowship hall of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Southern Pines. 

  

 Suzanne Clendenin, LCPC executive director

Before the luncheon began, Suzanne Clendenin, Life Care Pregnancy Center’s (LCPC) executive director, worked with Peggy Viverette, LCPC advisory board secretary, and Janet Harkey, a board member, in decorating tables and preparing the hall for volunteers who give their time to help with LCPC, “a Christ-centered ministry that promotes the sanctity of human life.”

“Stir the hearts of men and women . . . for ‘life’; it’s a precious gift,” Clendenin prayed, before the luncheon began and attendees enjoyed soup, salad and sandwiches catered by Lula’s Café of Southern Pines. The LCPC advisory board supplied desserts and drinks.

Elaine Barnes, of Pinehurst, sat at a table and commented on her experience as an LCPC volunteer.

“I enjoy interacting with the women who come to Life Care,” she said. “They bless me by just being there. I listen to them and help them work out their goals, and I give them encouragement and support, wherever they might need it. I volunteer on Thursdays and see as many as four clients.”

Dot McMillon, LCPC’s administrative assistant, said, “I enjoy Life Care because I get to be around mothers and babies. And since I can’t have children of my own, it’s a treat for me to be around babies.”   

McMillon holds a master’s degree in education; in addition to her work at LCPC, she teaches online courses for Sullivan University.

 Donette Matthias, a registered nurse, poses with her son, Leon. She serves as an “advocate” at LCPC. 

Donette Matthias, 33, sat with her 2-month-old baby, Leon. A registered nurse, Matthias and her husband, who serves with the U.S. Army and has been stationed here since 2009, have two children and hail from St. Croix (the Virgin Islands). They attend Grace Church in Southern Pines, and she found LCPC listed on the church’s website. She volunteered to serve at LCPC and has worked as an “advocate” for over a year.

“I just wanted a way to be one step closer to being a committed follower of Jesus,” said Matthias, who is a twin and the youngest of seven children.

  Pictured are members of the Life Care Pregnancy Center's board of directors: (from left) Joni Baggett, Janet Harkey, Deacon Stephen Dozier), Karen Wicker, Suzanne Clendenin and Peggy Viverette.

Deacon Stephen Dozier was the only male among volunteers attending the luncheon. He serves as bookkeeper for St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church and as treasurer on the LCPC board of directors.

“I’ve been on board for a year,” he said.

Dozier, 72, and his wife have eight children and 18 grandchildren.

 Pictured are three of the four LCPC staff members: (from left) Suzanne Clendenin, executive director; Naye Ramirez Campuzano, client service director; and Dot McMillon, administrative assistant. Missing from the photo is Leah Popoca, financial service director.
 

Naye Ramirez Campuzano, LCPC’s client services director, addressed the group as the luncheon program began. She and her husband are expecting their baby girl to be born in February.

“We have 11 new volunteers this year,” Naye said. “We are always looking for more.”

She noted that LCPC reached 80 new clients during 2013, installed a new office database, created a new website (lifecarepregnancy.com), started a Facebook page (“Life Care Pregnancy Center”), updated the center’s “Mommy Room” and improved its break room. The center recorded nearly 900 client visits during 2013. 

 Pictured are many of the volunteers who work with the Life Care Pregnancy Center of Carthage. (Click on the photo to enlarge it.)

Naye recognized volunteers celebrating recent birthdays and wedding anniversaries. She congratulated Erin Oates Brown on her recent marriage to Justyn Brown.

She noted that volunteers donated 1,427 hours of service to LCPC during 2013. She gave certificates acknowledging hours of service to all volunteers in attendance. Those who donated the most 2013 hours included Alice Alston (213 hours), Donette Matthias (184.5). Erin Brown (133.5), and Elaine Barnes (120).

“Those were my 100 [hours] and above; we had almost 30 volunteers throughout the year,” Naye said. She then distributed certificates and prizes to other volunteers.

Clendenin stood and addressed the group.

“I just keep it real . . . I’m pretty much who I am all the time,” she said.

Her husband is Randy Clendenin, pastor of True North Community Church. She said he, over the years, has often left notes, little “writings,” on their home refrigerator and signed them “RMC” (Randy M. Clendenin). She used one of those notes – “a note we used with our children” – as the theme of her luncheon message. That note contained these words: “The primary goal of every parent is to make Jesus real and desirable to their children.”

“Jesus – he’s not full of pretence,” Clendenin said. “He’s not distant. He’s our best friend. He’s familiar with your suffering. He identifies with our broken hearts. He’s safe, compassionate. … He understands shame, humiliation. He meets us where we are.”

She said that when she thinks about “making Jesus real,” she thinks about LCPC volunteers.

“You are ‘that Jesus’ to those we work with,” she said. “Clients keep coming back. We just open up our arms of love, the way Jesus opens up his. Jesus understands. He came and humbled himself.”

She wants LCPC clients to see the real Jesus, she said.

“When Jesus was born, I’m pretty sure it was messy,” Clendenin noted. “You all wash the women’s feet, figuratively, each time you’re with them. Thank you for taking the time. Your primary goal is to make Jesus real and desirable for our clients. The greatest gift we can give is the gift of Jesus.”

Applause.

Peggy Viverette, a member of Turning Point Worship Center in Aberdeen, stood and told attendees, “Each one of you plays a vital role in Life Care Pregnancy Center. With each of our gifts, we make it work. Thank you for the ministry of saving babies.”

Tracy Moore, “raised in a Christian home” and now a pastor’s wife, stepped to the microphone and told of weathering an abusive relationship during her sophomore year in college in Charlotte.

“I ended up pregnant,” she said.

She kept the news from her parents and  “looked through a phone book” and found a pregnancy center in Charlotte.

“I stayed close to my counselor,” she said. “That’s why I’m here, now.

She kept the child who resulted from that abusive relationship; her son is now 17 years old.

“She chose life,” Clendenin said. “She’s been a wonderful volunteer.”

Clendenin noted that LCPC does a lot with “a very small amount of money” 

“We are $10,000 below budget, right now,” she said.

She explained that St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church plans to help LCPC appeal to individuals, businesses and churches in order to raise funds to purchase an ultrasound machine. That machine can be used during a pregnancy to show images of an unborn baby. Studies show ultrasound is not hazardous. There are no harmful side effects to a mother or a baby. Ultrasound does not use radiation, as X-ray tests do.

Approximately 70 to 90 percent of women who visit centers such as LCPC and see ultrasound images of their unborn children, “choose life,” according to projectultrasound.org. Less than half of such centers have ultrasound machines because of their high cost.

If LCPC contributors and the Msgr. Koch Council of the Knights of Columbus (located at St. Padua Catholic Church in Southern Pines) can raise $15,000, then the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council will match that amount to assist in the purchase of an ultrasound machine for LCPC.

“The faster we can raise the money, the faster that machine will be in our building,” Clendenin said. “A doctor is lined up to help.”

Deacon Dozier closed the meeting by praying, “We want to make Jesus real in our lives and the lives of the clients. … You’re the God of providence, and you’re going to give us what we need.”

The Life Care Pregnancy Center (LCPC) board includes the following: Karen Wicker, president; Deacon Stephen Dozier, treasurer; Peggy Viverette, secretary; Joni Baggett; Louisa Locklear; Janet Harkey.

The LCPC Staff is made up of these ladies: Suzanne Clendenin, executive director; Leah Popoca, financial service director; Dot McMillon, administrative assistant; Naye Ramirez Campuzano, client service director.

LCPC Volunteers include Elaine Barnes, Alice Alston, Tiffany Samon, Gretchen Klingensmith, Anna Maness, Mary Pagano, Elizabeth Dosh, Donette Matthias, Mary Beth Pierce, Michaela Waller, Rebeckah Payne, Susan Ingram, Hope McDaniel, Jaclyn Plate, Camerina Powers, Tracy Moore, Erin Deucher, Erin Brown, Erin Cochran, Bert Cochrun, Sofia Taylor, Karen Hosking, Stephanie Kentner, Kimberly Krause, Molly Johnston, Angela Davis, Ann Watson, Pam Sercy, and Michelle Yeshulas.

Sponsors for the 2013 LCPC Annual Volunteer Luncheon include the following: Set in Stone, Aberdeen; Campuzano Marble and Granite, Candor; Carolina Fried Chicken, Robbins; Lapping and Lapping, Carthage; Charles Montjoy Insurance, Robbins; and Sandhills Presbyterian Church Women's Ministry.

Life Care Pregnancy Center of Carthage may be reached at 910-947-6199, by e-mail at lcpc01@embarqmail.com, online at www.lifecarepregnancy.com. Donations may be sent to LCPC, P.O. Box 519, Carthage, N.C. 28327.