The Pregnancy Help Center would not be able to provide life-saving services without the help of a dedicated team of volunteers. This Volunteer Appreciation Week, we are shining the spotlight on these amazing people who work behind the scenes to provide abortion-vulnerable women the help they need to choose life. Get to know a really special volunteer, Connie Liegey, who is our longest serving volunteer, and read all about her experience at the Center:
Tell us a little about yourself. How long have you been volunteering and how did you come to start volunteering with the Center?
I’ve been a nurse for forty-something years. I enjoyed being with people who are about to have babies or want to have babies. I was a volunteer at the Center for thirty-something years. When I stopped working, I remember talking to a bunch of nurses, “What am I going to do? I don’t know what to do.” They said, “Why don’t you go to the Pregnancy Help Center?” And I said, “Where’s the Pregnancy Help Center?” I didn’t know anything about it, though I’ve worked in the area for years. That’s how I got interested in it and got involved.
At first, I was a little afraid, not knowing what was going to happen, but after a while it was very interesting, and I felt very comfortable with it. Talking with people wasn’t hard for me, when the clients came in, it was just like meeting a friend. I enjoyed it. I always remember looking forward to what would happen because you never knew. It was very interesting with different people; most of the time they were good and kind.
What is your role and what is it like being in the clinic and interacting with clients?
As a volunteer, I do just about anything. Anything they need, that I can do, I’ll do. Working with clients is great because everybody’s so different. I enjoyed that a lot, it was very interesting and easy to do.
Do you have any memorable stories to share from your time volunteering?
The biggest memories I have are of clients that I would meet on the street. They’ll say, “Connie, do you remember me? I had a baby.” And I’d say, “Oh, I do!” And we’d start talking. That happened so many times to me, people coming up to me and saying, “Connie, I remember you when this thing happened. Here’s a picture of my baby, and I have two more.”
It was a special time for me because I didn’t anticipate any of this at the time. It was a special thing and it happened over the years. Sometimes I’d wonder how she’d remember me because I didn’t remember her!
What is one thing you would tell someone who is considering volunteering at the Center?
It’s a wonderful thing, and I’m very happy I fell into it. It wasn’t something I had planned, and it worked out very well. I enjoyed the people that I was with. I was pleasantly surprised by the people I had met and all the good things that happened.
We are so grateful to Connie and all our volunteers who work tirelessly to provide life-affirming support to our clients and their babies. Thank you for all that you do! We’re always happy to welcome new volunteers. If Connie’s story has inspired you, find out about all the different opportunities we have and apply to be a volunteer today.