The shop's 50th anniversary this week was marked with volunteers old and new from Levin's Uniting Church getting together to celebrate and reflect on their achievements for pregnant women and their families.

In the beginning

Founding member Marie Vaney says volunteers who started the op shop came from the town's Catholic, Baptist, Presbyterian and Anglican churches.

"At the time Levin had a healthy religious climate so church members were approached to help set it up to offer an alternative for young families.

"We received training from Massey University to learn about non-judgemental telephone communications. We'd help with transport to and from appointments and on occasion we'd do a little bit of cleaning for them."

Vaney says that, when volunteers were helping young mums and their babies, others in the households they were living in often needed help too.

"There was so much people needed - like clothing, furniture and other items, so we decided that what we needed was an op shop - and two years later, in October 1974, it was formed."

She says the op shop was initially called the One Two Three Shop. Then other businesses started "popping up" with similar names, so the volunteers decided to change it to the Opportunity Shop.

Vaney, the op shop committee's first secretary, helped with the shop for almost 20 years until 1995 when she moved to Wellington with her family. After retiring nine years ago, she went back to Levin and is volunteering at the op shop again.

"It's the people that brought me back. It's a nice welcoming place where we help without judgement."

Treasurer Margaret Burnell is another long-standing volunteer - she started helping many years ago.

"I came here in 1991, was put in the treasurer role and here I am still. I think it's good to have something to get you out of the house and get on with it."

Yvonne Leyland, the shop manager for 12 years, says the anniversary celebration highlighted an important milestone.

"I think its incredible. In this day and age, there is a big need for more volunteers and I feel very blessed that we have, and have had, so many wonderful people helping us" she says.

• The New Zealand Herald

He emphasised his willingness to help after New York State's Reproductive Health Act 2019 legalised abortions for any reason up to birth.

The public outcry after New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the new law included calls for Dolan to excommunicate Cuomo who claims to be Catholic.

Rather than the current "almost pro-abortion atmosphere out there," Dolan is emphasising the Church's willingness to help expectant mothers.

He says support is available to help pregnant women choose life for their unborn babies.

"Any woman feeling a difficult pregnancy and tempted to have an abortion is assured of a warm welcome, encouragement and loving support.

"Any pregnant woman can come to this Archdiocese of New York.

"We will do all in our power to assist you, to welcome you so that you never have to feel that you have no alternative except abortion."

Dolan says sometimes the Catholic Church needs "to trumpet and put a spotlight on" the good work it does.

"Most of us bristle when the church is criticised for speaking all the time but not offering action. Nothing could be further from the truth."

Dolan says he worries poor women especially are getting the impression abortion is their only choice.

"This is a very teachable time [immediately following the new legislation] for us to stand up and say, 'We're here. We love you. We welcome you. There is an alternative here and we'd be honored to serve you.'"

Many pro-lifers - who are people of all faiths - have felt discouraged since Cuomo signed the law, Dolan says.

Since it was signed in January, several other states have seen similar late-term abortion bills.

"Abortion has been very much in the news lately," Dolan says.

"And it sometimes seems as if each day brings with it a further attack on the rights and dignity on all human life, especially the life of the most innocent and powerless among us — the baby waiting to be born.

"No matter the hurt, the frustration or even anger we may feel at the passage of the recent abortion expansion bill, we should not respond with bitterness or divisions, but put our faith and trust in the Lord and reach out with love to troubled moms and their expectant babies."

Source

• LifeNews
• The Boston Pilot
• Image: LifeSite

She wanted to get the message out that children in the city were having sex and many parents did not know it was happening.

"I want to stimulate conversation in the community and get people asking, what is happening to my children, where are they?"

Invercargill Pregnancy Help Inc president Dianne Acker said the agency helped women of all ages but many young teens had sought help, the youngest a 14-year-old.

She was concerned some of the young girls did not have support or basic life skills. She also referred cases of young girls to other agencies.

Pregnancy Help has been operating for more than 30 years and volunteers were seeing more young girls, and many without support, she said.

Southland Boys' High School rector Ian Baldwin said he believed sex among teenagers was becoming increasingly common.

As children became sexualised earlier in life through television and social media, they made the physical connection, he said. Continue reading