From The Tribune staff reports
SPRINGVILLE — St. Clair Savalife, a pregnancy care center, is hosting a benefit concert to entertain and raise money for the organization.
The center offers pregnancy tests, parenting classes, ultrasounds, free baby and maternity items, post-abortion healing, for those with unplanned pregnancies.
“Ultrasound can help them focus on the growing baby inside of them instead of all the fears they have,” Cantrell explained. “Our parenting classes give them information about pregnancy, prenatal development, newborn and toddler care as well as many other topics related to parenting and relationships. These are also free to our clients and are offered in-person one on one as well as virtually.”
Savalife also partners with adoption agencies in order to offer resources to those who are interested in adoption.
In the beginning, Savalife put its resources towards teen moms who were scared and unsure of how to navigate being a teen mom. Recently, the center has expanded its reach by helping all of those involved, including grandparents and fathers, and offering caring and compassionate services, education, and support.
“We really try to focus on the family,” said Angie Cantrell, with Savalife. “An unplanned pregnancy really affects the whole family.”
By helping the young fathers, Cantrell said Savalife can help far beyond the initial news of a baby on the way.
“We also help prepare the dad to become not only a father, but also a leader in the home,” she added.
In order to make all of these things happen, the non-profit depends on donations. Typically, the center has a fundraising dinner each year. Cantrell hopes the concert fundraiser this year will help reach more people.
“We’re hoping that through a concert, we will reach more people who maybe don’t know about what we do,” she said. “Everybody needs to know about what we do because you may not need our services, but you may know someone who does.”
Dove Award-Winning Contemporary Christian Artist, Mark Schultz has a special heart for the work Savalife does because of his personal story of adoption, Cantrell said. He will be performing and Savalife will be taking donations throughout the night.
“All of the services that we offer here, that money will help fund that, as well as advertising and things like that to help people know that we’re here,” Cantrell said.
The concert will be held at Crosspoint Church, on Friday, April 23, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $15 online or $20 at the door. VIP tickets are also available for $45 each. For tickets and more information, go to www.savalifeconcert.com.
Savalife has been serving families in and around St. Clair County for over 19 years since opening in 2002. It is located on Highway 11, in Springville, across from Fontaine and next to Allstate.