Gallup pregnancy center adopts new name
Volunteer Tonie Farris, left, talks with new mother Ceah Nava and her 3-month-old son Demacio during a parenting class at Hands of Hope Pregnancy Center Thursday. The center offically changed it's name from Gallup Crisis Pregnancy Center to Hands of Hope Pregnancy Center Jan. 1. — © 2009 Gallup Independent / Cable Hoover

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Staff writer

GALLUP — After nearly three decades of operation in Gallup, a local nonprofit organization has changed its name.

As of Jan. 1, the Hands of Hope Pregnancy Center has become the new name for what used to be the Gallup Crisis Pregnancy Center.

Barbara Leslie, director of the center, said the center’s volunteers and supporters had been thinking about a name change for sometime because comments from clients indicated they did not relate to the former name.

“The term ‘crisis pregnancy center’ was born in the early 1980s,” Leslie said, adding the Gallup center was established during that time period, 27 years ago in February 1982. “Now people feel comfortable saying it’s an unplanned pregnancy,” she explained.

Local volunteers and supporters — following the national trend to drop the term “crisis” — believed a name change would help reach more local people who might be interested in using the center’s services. After looking at a number of different names from across the country and polling students in area high school classes, the winner was Hands of Hope, Leslie said.

A couple of weeks ago, the center installed a new banner to hang over the old building sign. That temporary banner may end up being fairly permanent until center officials make a decision about their permanent location. Leslie said she and board members have been considering the options of eventually moving into a new building near the soon-to-be constructed Lighthouse Ministries’ new sanctuary or purchasing an existing building elsewhere in Gallup.

“Those details are kind of up in the air,” Leslie admitted.
But in spite of the new name and possible new future location, Leslie said the center’s free services are still the same. “We are still here to provide women with the information and compassionate services they need as they face decisions regarding unplanned pregnancy,” she said.

Those free services include pregnancy tests, options education — letting women know what their options are if they have an unplanned pregnancy, parenting classes, school presentations entitled “Creating Positive Relationships,” and individual post-abortion counseling for women and men. The center, located at 120 S. Boardman Dr., is open from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

Information: Helpline phone is (505) 722-3445, office phone is (505) 722-7125, or info@handsofhopegallup.com