23.1 F
Saint Paul
Friday, March 29, 2024

West St. Paul pregnancy resource center to expand

Susan Klemond
Wakota Life Care Center, West St. Paul. Dave Hrbacek/The Catholic Spirit

Despite some opposition to its expansion plans, officials at a pregnancy resource center in West St. Paul won approval from the City Council to broaden services and create enough to room help twice as many people.

More than 350 people, mostly supporters, attended a City Council meeting Jan. 27 that ended with council members approving Wakota Life Care Center’s plans.

The center, which counts among its supporters volunteers from about eight Catholic parishes in the area, is committing $3.2 million to expand a facility that already offers material assistance, pregnancy tests, ultrasounds and family life and fertility classes.

The center plans to break ground on a new facility at its current Robert Street location in May, after demolishing its present building. When it’s completed in May 2021, the facility be nearly five times larger. In addition to bringing more medical services such as mental health care, the expansion will provide additional room for consultations, classes and storage, Saad said.

The center is arranging to continue its services in a temporary location along Robert Street during construction, Saad said.

About 40 people testified at the City Council meeting, some concerned about classifying the clinic as a medical facility. Supporters touted the center’s help to women and families.

- Advertisement -

Three of six council members plus the mayor approved the permit, site plan and preliminary plat review. Three council members recused themselves from voting.

 The number of people praying and supporting the center made for a joyous victory, said Dan Saad, 57, center director and a parishioner at St. Michael in Prior Lake. 

“I know the process it took to get there and for the 44 years of history in this community, to have 350 supporters come out and be a part of the vote, hear it and cheer for it was an incredible feeling,” he said. 

Founded in West St. Paul in 1976 by two doctors and a religious sister to assist pregnant women and their families, Wakota has seen client visits increase 82 percent since it expanded educational offerings through its 2016 affiliation with the Guiding Star Project. Guiding Star, an Ironton, Minn.-based holistic healthcare organization, focuses on fertility, childbearing, breastfeeding and family life.

Expanding the center’s footprint and services will help it continue to meet a need in the community, said Vaunae Hansel, president of Elevate Life, a network of 30 Minnesota and Wisconsin pregnancy resource centers that offers training, marketing help and other assistance to its affiliates, including Wakota.

Wakota has been “a historic landmark in that community and provides for so many in need,” Hansel said.

The center still needs to raise $300,000 for the project. Supporters who want to help financially are encouraged to attend a Feb. 22 gala in Bloomington, Saad said. For more information, visit guidingstarwakota.org.

 


Related Articles

SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

Trending

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
12,743FansLike
1,478FollowersFollow
6,479FollowersFollow
35,922FollowersFollow
583SubscribersSubscribe
- Advertisement -