Lodi Pregnancy Resource Center a Red Day recipient
The Lodi Pregnancy Resource Center will be the beneficiary when local Keller Williams Realty employees take part in “Red Day” on Thursday.
Red Day is observed by Keller Williams branches around the world, with all offices shutting down on the second Thursday in May to give back to local communities.
Larry Underhill, a real estate associate with Lodi’s Statesman Realty for Keller Williams, played a large part in selecting this year’s recipient. Underhill made a suggestion to the Keller Williams Agent Leadership Council, making a strong case for why the company should help out the Pregnancy Resource Center,.
“I’ve been a supporter for many years. I believe in what they do and it’s great,” Underhill said.
The Pregnancy Resource Center, located in Downtown Lodi, provides an educational and support outlet to mothers and fathers of all ages. The center educates women about parenting, adoption and abortion. The faithbased organization provides information and education for different pregnancy options available at the various stages of pregnancy.
The center offers a parenting program, in which both moms and dads are welcome and get one-on-one mentoring sessions; a baby gift bag program, where new moms are provided with infant clothing, afghans, diapers, and bottles right after pregnancy; and a post-abortion program.
Desiree Vasquez, a Realtor with the Keller Williams office in Stockton, is spearheading Thursday’s event.
“As for me, helping others has always been something I try to do,” Vasquez said. “We as a whole group look forward to assisting others in need and accomplishing goals alongside with these organizations.”
This year’s Red Day will be different from previous years because it is Keller Williams’ first year helping in the Lodi community. Its Lodi office opened in April 2016, but both the Stockton and Lodi offices will be at the Pregnancy Resource Center on Thursday.
In 2016, Lodi’s Pregnancy Resource Center performed 320 pregnancy tests, 229 ultrasounds, and had a Healthy Relationship Education Team which educated local high school and college students about sexual issues and information on relationships.
Paula Leary, the center’s executive director, came in as a client in 2002 in her 30s. As a teenager she says she had several unplanned pregnancies and the only resources she was aware of resulted in abortions.
“After going through the postabortion program and receiving the help and support that I needed, I decided I wanted to help other women who had abortions receive that same kind of forgiveness and healing,” Leary said.
Leary worked her way up from post-abortion counselor to parenting program coordinator, on to executive director in 2007.
Keller Williams plans to mount new signs on the exterior of the building, paint the interior of the center, and provide new furniture as well as landscaping.
The center is still in need of funds to purchase a mobile sonogram unit which will be used in the pre-existing mobile medical unit. The center is also looking for more volunteer nurses to perform pregnancy tests and ultrasounds, which will be conducted on its mobile medical unit.
Local businesses BVM Mortgage, First American Home Warranty, Kelly Moore Paint, Movement Mortgage, North American Title, Old Republic Title, Quality Office Liquidations, The Statesman Team, Stearns Lending, and Summit Funding have made donations on behalf of the center.