Bridgett Craig has seen firsthand the positive impact that AA Women’s Service of Corbin has made on young mothers since the center first opened in the late eighties.
“I remember when the pregnancy center first started,” said Craig, who was recently named as the facility’s newest director. “My mom and some other ladies from church were very active in it. That’s why, when I heard that it was struggling, it just tugged at my heart. I knew about all the hard work that my mom and the others did, and all of the young women they helped. I couldn’t just let all that go away.”
Craig explained that AA Women’s Services, located at 301 US-25W in Corbin, is currently only open for four hours a week, on Tuesday afternoons. However, she is excited to announce that, because of the recruitment of three new volunteers, the center will begin opening on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from noon- 4 p.m. after the New Year.
It is an improvement, but there is still much more work to be done before Craig’s vision for AA can be fully realized.
“Before COVID, the center was open five days a week,” Craig said. “My goal is to be open five days a week from noon to four, but our need right now is more volunteers. I think a lot of people are afraid to volunteer because they know they can’t come every day, but if you can just give eight hours a month, that’s huge.”
When asked what volunteering time to further AA’s mission would look like, Craig said, “It may mean helping sort clothes, or it may mean talking with a young woman who just needs someone to talk to. Really, it’s just being a friend to the ladies who come by.”
Craig said that exploring options for a mentoring program is something that she is also interested in, both for young mothers and young fathers.
And if you are a young mother in need of some help, AA Women’s Services has a program in place that offers educational opportunities to go along with supplies such as diapers, formula and clothing.
“We have a number that they can call and leave a message,” Craig said. “Someone will follow up, and we will just talk to them. We will find out what’s going on in their life. If you become one of our clients, then we will work with you and give you some online courses to take. It’s completely free, and can be taken from a computer or a phone. They can even come to the center and watch.”
Craig said the videos cover a wide range of topics, including changes that a woman’s body will go through when she is pregnant and what to expect when it comes to living with a newborn baby. Watching these videos will result in points being earned that can then be used to shop for items available at the center.
“We want to educate them on how to care for the baby,” Craig said. “Because if they don’t have someone who can help them, they don’t know what to do. It’s scary, and that is why we want to help train them by giving them the classes to watch.”
Craig also pointed out that AA Women’s Services is a pro-life center, saying, “We are pro-life, but we won’t turn anyone away. If you really don’t want the baby, we will walk you through the pregnancy and we have connections with people who can put it up for adoption. You may not want the baby, but we’re not going to think badly of you. We are going to love you, because there are other people out there who do want a baby.”
Anyone in need of AA Women’s Services, or who would like to learn more about volunteering, can call the center at (606) 523-1113.
Monetary donations are always accepted, and preferred, but Craig said the center can also use diapers and wipes. Clothing donations should be sized newborn to two years and gently used with no stains or defects.
Wrap for a Cause Dec. 6 and Dec. 13
Craig wished to inform the community about the AA Women’s Services “Wrap for a Cause” fundraiser, taking place Saturday, Dec. 6, and Saturday, Dec. 13, at 17th Street Christian Church in Corbin.
If you have gifts that need to be wrapped for Christmas, let Craig and her team of volunteers take care of that for a suggested minimum donation of $4, $6 or $8 per package, depending on the size of the gift.
Boxes, wrapping paper and ribbon have all been donated, so those wishing to take advantage of this service while also supporting a worthy cause should just show up to the church on either day between 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Gifts can be dropped off and picked up later if needed.
