By Dawn Burleigh

The Orange Leader

 

A non profit organization received several packages in the mail recently.

Birthright of Orange, an organization providing a variety of services and also refers for many more. The group offers friendship, free pregnancy tests, love, hope and support, so a woman can make a realistic plan for the future, according to Birthright International website.

“The clothes are sorted by ages and sex,” Birthright of Orange Director Clara Fults said. “They went through so much trouble to organize them as they packed the boxes.”

Fults has been with Birthright since 2005. She has always been fond of babies and enjoys her many grandchildren.

“At my age, I should not work,” Fults said. “But I worry if someone might not get help.”

Birthright offers more than just Medicaid approved testing for confirmation of pregnancy. It also offers friendship, baby clothes, and information regarding education, pregnancy, prenatal, medical referrals, financial assistance, parenting skills, legal referrals, and ongoing confidential support.

“We make gift bags for our clients with baby clothes and diapers,” Fults said. “We give them to the clients when they are eight months along because by then, they know what they are having.”

The organization receives no state or federal funding for their program.

“We work with all the area churches, and they help with funding,” Fults said. “We also receive some from individuals and other organizations. We also have monthly donors.”

While Birthright is not a Christian based organization, Fults said it just happens she and the seven volunteers are all Christian.

“We just want to take care of the girls,” Fults said. “I do everything in my power to help them. I have seven excellent volunteers.”

The organization has a board of directors consisting of seven members. Birthright in Orange is accepting new volunteers as well.

“They can call or stop by the office to fill out an application if someone wants to volunteer,” Fults said. “We are always in need of volunteers.”

Birthright of Woodbridge, Virginia, upon hearing the news of the destruction left in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, contacted regional Director of Texas Mary Holly to see where the need was greatest.

“We helped two locations, Beaumont and Orange,” Woodbridge Co Director Connie Dunn said in a telephone interview. “The Regional Director said those were the two in most need after checking with them.”

Woodbridge Co-Director Mary Hovey and volunteer Nicole Velavqueze packed several boxes with clothes for both locations.

“We had clothing beyond our needs,” Dunn said. “We are so glad they [Orange] could use them.”

Birthright of Orange sees approximately 500 clients a year.

“Along with proof of pregnancy, we also help with the social services available and give referrals to Christian maternity homes,” Birthright of Orange Director Clara Fults said. “We also work with the schools. We have had some as young as 12 or 13.”

Birthright services are free, confidential and available to any woman regardless of age, race, creed or martial status.

Birthright of Orange is open 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Monday – Friday and located at 1537 B Strickland Drive in Orange.