HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2015-12-09, Page 9Wednesday, December 9, 2015 • News Record 9
Room 2 Grow Pregnancy Centre has expanded
Valerie Gillies
Clinton News Record
Room 2 Grow Pregnancy
Centre has been at 9 Ratten-
bury Street in Clinton for 5
years. It has recently expanded
due to more room becoming
available when it became the
only business in the building.
The building, itself, has recently
undergone updating with the
help of the Facade Improve-
ment program through Central
Huron Economic Develop-
ment Office.
Linda Renkema is one of the
mentors at the totallyvolunteer
run centre. She explains that
the centre is run strictly on
donations with no help from
the government. In describing
what the pregnancy centre
does, Renkema states, "every-
thing from free pregnancy tests
until the parents have the confi-
dence to move on from the pro-
gram" She adds that many par-
ticipants stay as they become
part of the network of commu-
nity support for the families.
Renkema has been involved
with Room 2 Grow since its
beginnings. As time progresses,
more services have been added
including help with housing,
clothes, furniture, education
groups and networking with
the community. Various groups
have become involved with the
centre including Second Stage
Housing, Rural Response for
Healthy Children, Public
Health Nurses, Clinical Psy-
chologists, Social Workers, Chil-
dren's Aid Society, Doula and
Midwives.
One of the participants in
the group pointed out that
when most people hear about
a pregnancy center, they auto-
matically assume that it is for
only teenagers and single
mothers. She agrees that there
are some at the centre, but
that it is much more than that
and wants to let people know
that the stereotypes do not fit
this centre. As a married
mother of two with a house
and a mortgage, she finds
being a mother can be over-
whelming and needed some-
where to go to be with other
parents to keep herself sane
when the kids are too much.
There are drop-in times from
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays,
Wednesdays and Fridays
which vary in attendance with
each day tending to have
groups form who become a
peer support group. Different
days seem to attract different
types of people which results
in the groups being adaptable
to suit various tastes and
needs.
Another participant
explains that there are those
who attend the centre to find
support to get away from bad
circumstances. Room 2 Grow
is a safe place to go where you
can find the needed resources
to make the changes to build a
better life for both the parent
and children.
Renkema stresses that part
of the safety comes from the
strict rule of confidentiality.
She also stresses that the
ID'S
HELP
PHONE
centre supports all parents,
including single fathers. No
one is turned away.
The need for the services is
so great that Room 2 Grow has
exploded, necessitating the
recent expansion. The extra
room, which became
FREE
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From All FM Us To All Of You!
We hope you have an extra special holiday,
and that you are with those near
and dear to you. It's been our pleasure
serving you, and we thank you
for being such a loyal reader.
From all of us at...
1
[dews Record]
53 Albert St., Clinton
519-482-3443
Tuesday December 15
Huron Fish & Game
From noon....
MOONS
IRNA 11 ACK. EJ r T r o2,
available October 1, has made
it possible to have a space that
is more private for one-on-
one meetings.
The Friends of the Commu-
nity Food Bank rents the back
room to stock supplies which
gives participants at Room 2
Grow access to this service.
Learn more about Room 2
Grow Pregnancy Centre online
at tcc.on.ca. Room 2 Grow is a
registered charitable organiza-
tion, making tax receipts availa-
ble for those who wish to make
monetary donations.
To Place A
Christmas
Greeting
in the Dec. 16 edition
of the Clinton News Record
PLEASE CONTACT
Dawn @ 519-482-3443 x527 303
dawn.johnston@sunmedia.ca by Dec.10
Thank you
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