Center: Ultrasound machine might avert abortions

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The Pregnancy Care Center in Seymour, now known as Clarity, has received a gift of a new ultrasound machine from the Knights of Columbus.

In a Pay it Forward project, K of C Council 822 in Shelbyville raised enough money to purchase the $28,500 piece of equipment for the center.

Clarity board member Denny Frey, a former Seymour Knight who now lives in Shelbyville, came up with the idea.

Clarity offers support to pregnant women in six counties in south central Indiana, including Jackson, by providing education, encouragement and material assistance, including free diapers, formula and baby clothing.

The center also offers counseling classes and support groups, pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection testing, sexual risk avoidance education for youth and programs for parents on how to talk to children about sex.

An ultrasound machine allows the center to check the health of an unborn baby and provide an image of the fetus to the parents who may be considering abortion.

Recently, officials from the Knights Catholic service organization gathered to present the machine to representatives of Clarity at the Seymour center, which opened in 2002 and had 821 client visits last year.

Taking part in the presentation were two members from the Seymour Knights of Columbus Council 1252, which was challenged by the Shelbyville Knights to “pay it forward” and purchase another ultrasound machine for the Clarity center in North Vernon.

Dave Rossi and Bill Vosmeier served as co-chairs of the Seymour project, which also was successful in its goal. Another ultrasound has been ordered but not yet delivered to the North Vernon Clarity center.

The Knights in North Vernon now are raising money to purchase another ultrasound unit for the Clarity center in Greensburg.

Rossi said the Seymour Knights council reached out to other churches in the area and the public to make the donation possible.

Half of the money, $14,250, came mostly from the congregations of St. Ambrose Catholic Church and Redeemer Lutheran Church, both in Seymour. A dollar-for-dollar matching grant from the national Knights organization also was secured to purchase the ultrasound machine.

“Saving a baby’s life isn’t just a Catholic issue or any particular denomination’s issue, it’s a Christian issue,” Rossi said. “Ninety percent of women who are vulnerable to abortion will change their mind after seeing an ultrasound picture.”

Rossi said he was proud of the efforts of those in Seymour who contributed to such a worthy cause.

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How to help support Clarity pregnancy care center in Seymour:

Contact center manager Angie Burton about financial and/or materials donations and volunteer opportunities at 812-524-1900.

Clarity is located at 502 S. Walnut St. in Seymour.

Hours are from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays.

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