BONNERS FERRY — A Blessed Beginning, a community-supported pregnancy care center, that helps pregnant women in need of encouragement, was opened in 2011, and moved to a new building in January of this year to offer expanded services.

Midwives Lori Sabin, Andrea Wallace, and Kathy Johnson, along with A Blessed Beginning’s Directors, Linda Lamphere and Sherry Bushnell, RN, LM, CPM and midwife, held a grand opening on Saturday at their new location, 6530 Suite B, Washington St., next to the Bible Presbyterian church.

All winter long, local volunteers pounded, sanded, painted, and finished the bottom suite of the empty two-story building in order to prepare a safe place for women who may be facing an unexpected pregnancy to seek advice and assistance.

“Sometimes women and girls facing an unplanned pregnancy just need a confidential, caring, and compassionate friend to talk to,” Bushnell said.

A Blessed Beginning is Bonners Ferry’s own pregnancy care center, supported by several churches and local families that are dedicated to keeping ABB open and available to pregnant mothers and children.

The non-profit organization offers a plethora of resources including: confidential pregnancy testing and options counseling, STD/STI information, health education, free limited ultra-sound, and a 5-week series of classes, including childbirth classes, parenting information, newborn care classes, as well as baby clothes, diapers, baby equipment, and maternity clothes. Hospital, birth center, or home birth options and Christian-based counseling by trained volunteers is also available.

Bushnell says that staff and trained volunteers at A Blessed Beginning look forward to offering excellent care to low-income, pregnant women in the future, and will continue offering the services of caring women to meet the needs of local women.

Clients said they feel welcomed, and that they experienced warm, compassionate counseling. Clients also expressed that they appreciate the confidentiality and privacy regarding whatever decisions they make.

“Concerned families here in Bonners Ferry want all women facing an unplanned pregnancy to feel supported and cared for,” Bushnell said.

A Blessed Beginning has new open hours, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The organization is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and by appointment for ultrasound. It is located at 6530 Washington St. in Bonners Ferry. Information: http://blessedbeginning.org/ or email linda@blessedbeginning.org

Community members wishing to volunteers are encouraged to contact Linda Lamphere at 208-267-1491, or for more information, contact Sherry Bushnell, 208-946-0640.