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news friendsofeps.org spring 2020 issue in this issue... our stories meeting the needs of our clients during uncertain times celebrating motherhood “ALL THAT I AM OR EVER HOPE TO BE, I OWE TO MY ANGEL MOTHER." ABRAHAM LINCOLN others are a true gift from God! With Mother’s Day approaching, this spring Mnewsletter is dedicated to moms - especially the beautiful mothers EPS serves every day, even amidst the pandemic. COVID-19 is presenting new and unique challenges in our service delivery, and we’re finding solutions because vulnerable women who are pregnant and in crisis need us now more than ever! The EPS staff is working tirelessly to adjust and respond to the growing levels of anxiety among our clients. In addition to the threat of the virus, abortion advocates are working to expand chemical abortion access through telemedicine to accommodate stay-at-home orders. It is critical for EPS to address these issues head on and to reach as many women as we can when they first learn they are pregnant. EPS is the life-affirming, compassionate, and loving alternative to abortion. And our Maple Village center – located next door to an abortion provider – is perfectly positioned for this battle for life. As you read this newsletter, please prayerfully consider ways to partner with us this month as we address both the abortion and COVID-19 crises. Your partnership inspires us and makes it possible for staff to keep operating on the front lines. We appreciate your generosity, and hold you close in our prayers. Best, LAURA BUDDENBERG, MS Executive Director at a glance finding solutions during a pandemic MEDICAL SERVICES || Abortions are still happening in EPS BOUTIQUE || While the EPS boutique is temporarily Nebraska despite COVID-19. And we’re rising to the chal- closed to regular shopping hours, we're able to meet the lenge to address both the abortion and virus crises. essential needs of our clients with a drive-thru boutique at EPS Benson Center (6220 Maple Street) every Tuesday Providing safe, life-sustaining services in the midst of the current crisis is difficult, yet our staff is meeting the needs from 5:00-7:30PM and Thurday from 11:00AM - 2:00PM of women who are pregnant and in need of help. We while supplies last. fully understand the gravity of the situation we are facing, We are now seeing an average of 30 clients make their and we’re taking every precaution necessary to keep our way through our drive-thru boutique on Tuesdays and environment safe. We are grateful to welcome every woman Thursdays. And the numbers continue to grow! who chooses our door over the abortion clinic next-door. That open door is why it is imperative for EPS to remain BOUTIQUE REQUESTS In hopes to keep up with the open. || demand, please consider helping us with a monthly Our Benson and Bellevue centers are temporarily closed. donation of any of these items: EPS Maple Village Center hours are: Diapers in sizes N, 4, 5, & 6 Formula Wipes Monday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tuesday 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Many stores are out of infant formula, but if you have Wednesday Noon to 5:00 p.m. any samples at home that are unopened and not Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. expired, please consider donating them to us for our Friday 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. clients. Donations may be dropped off during our boutique drive-thru service hours in our Benson Center For more information about how EPS is adjusting service parking lot. You can stay in your vehicle and an EPS delivery in response to COVID-19, visit our client website at representative will assist you. essentialps.org. 2 an invitation to a gift of time together... for your mom & you this TEATIME Mother's Day JOIN US FOR VIRTUAL TEATIME you're invited For many years, the EPS Auxiliary has had a significant presence at many churches in the Omaha metro on Mother's Day as they hosted a successful fundraiser FRIDAY, MAY 8 for the mission. With a donation to EPS, the Auxiliary handed out beautiful red roses giving families the opportunity to honor their mothers in a special way. 9AM to 10AM Although we cannot host the same event this year, a pandemic cannot keep us from celebrating the gift of motherhood with our community! And so, with great joy, we invite you to honor your mother at our virtual EPS Teatime! I'm excited for teatime with EPS! How can I register my mom & myself? Using the enclosed envelope, we invite you to make a donation – in any amount – in honor or in memoriam of your mother or a special woman you adore. With your gift, you will receive a link to EPS’ Mother’s Day Teatime with our Executive Director Laura Buddenberg on Friday, May 8 from 9AM to 10AM. On the envelope, please fill out the following information: 1. Your name 2. Fill in the area indicating how you want your tribute identified – in honor of or in memorial of... 3. Complete the space (if you choose) which allows for us to send notice of your tribute to the person or family of the person you are honoring. 4. Include your email and/or the email of the person you are honoring to ensure EPS sends a link to them for our virtual teatime. When you receive the email, you can forward it to family and friends and instruct them to click the link to enjoy tea with EPS! Invitations will be emailed on or before May 5, depending on when you register. RSVP SAVE THE STAMP BY MAY 5 1. Make your donation online at FRIENDSOFEPS.ORG/DONATE 2. Select "Mother's Day Tribute" from the dropdown menu. 3. Add your donation amount and payment information. 4. In the comment section, indicate the name of the person you are honoring or memorializing. 5. Include the emails you wish for a teatime invite to be sent to. 3 OUR STORIES eps mom maria & baby aiden our clients & the pandemic re-routed by grace by Hinke, EPS licensed professional counselor by Cheryl, EPS nurse Over a month has passed since the start of unprecedented After driving several hours to Omaha for a shutdown measures in our community. You may wonder scheduled surgical abortion, the expecting how EPS clients are faring during this epidemic. The stories woman saw EPS’ sign at Maple Village from the they share with us are harrowing. From widespread layoffs parking lot of the abortion facility next door and serious financial woes, to worsening relationships and and decided to stop in briefly – prior to her mental health issues, to discovering empty food, diaper abortion appointment – to see if she could get an and formula shelves in stores and foodbanks – there is no ultrasound. denying that the already marginalized in our community are suffering disproportionately to the rest of us. While she had an ultrasound the week prior, she wanted her boyfriend – who was supporting I think of Rebecca,* a young single mother who until her decision to abort their child – to see an recently worked as a server at an upscale Omaha restaurant. ultrasound. Now furloughed and without savings, she struggles to pay her utilities and fears eviction from the apartment she With only 10 minutes to spare until her scheduled shares with her young son. abortion next door, I immediately proceeded with the scan. As the images appeared of her I am genuinely concerned for Evelyn,* a pregnant woman baby moving, both she and the father of the married to a violent man with a substance abuse problem. baby cried. They remained tearful throughout the Could the violence she suffers at his hands be escalating at appointment. home, now that he has become unemployed and is home 24/7? With their minds made up to forgo the abortion appointment and their hearts open to clinical I fear for the EPS families living in substandard housing and support, I shared options education, the services unsafe, crime ridden neighborhoods. Like young Hannah* available here at EPS, and information about the and her daughter, who “always stays away from windows” local pregnancy resource centers in their area. due to shootings frequently occurring in her neighborhood. How is sheltering in place impacting her family? Are they With a more hopeful outlook toward their safe at home? pregnancy and their sharing of their Christian views, our new client was offered and excitedly I am incredibly proud of Cassandra* who raises two young accepted a “Love in a Box” care package from kids on her own and exemplifies courage and ingenuity Embrace Grace, which included a book titled during this challenging time. Lacking internet services at A Bump in Life, a baby onesie with the words home, she drives her kids to the local library every day of “best gift ever” printed on it and a prayer journal. the week to complete their online schoolwork. Despite the A handmade baby blanket from our generous building being closed to the public, the library WIFI signal donors was also provided to this expecting reaches her kids’ devices inside her parked vehicle. couple. My heart especially aches for the countless women who Before parting ways, I offered to pray with them, find themselves unexpectedly pregnant at this scary, and they accepted. I told our new client I was unprecedented time and considering abortion. Are our glad she came in, to which she replied, “I am, current social distancing guidelines preventing her from too.