Crossroads Pregnancy Resource Center to hold banquet Oct. 12

MOSES LAKE — Crossroads Resource Center will hold its fundraiser banquet Oct. 12. 

The event will feature a prime rib dinner catered by Top Gun Concessions and Catering of Moses Lake, as well as an update on the clinic’s services from Executive Director Carol Knopp and an address by speaker Steventhen Holland. 

“It will be a great evening,” Knopp said. “(Holland) has a really great story I’m looking forward to hearing.” 

Holland, an author and recording artist, was born as the result of the gang-rape of a mentally-challenged 18-year-old, according to the website of his ministry, Broken Not Dead. His mother was under heavy pressure to abort him, but instead placed him in foster care, where he was later adopted. 

“He has seen first-hand how someone's life can be impacted by someone else being vulnerable and courageous enough to share their brokenness,” according to the website. 

Last year’s banquet brought in more than $200,000, Knopp estimated. The money goes to help women cope with an unexpected pregnancy with physical, emotional and spiritual support; referrals for medical care, housing social services and legal aid; parenting classes; breastfeeding support; and free diapers and clothing, according to its website. Crossroads also offers ultrasound imaging, post-partum depression support and healing support for women who choose abortion. None of those services cost the client any money, Knopp said. 

Pregnancy centers like Crossroads are sometimes derided as “fake clinics,” Knopp said, because they don’t perform or give referrals for abortions. Crossroads, however, maintains paid medical staff as well as its volunteers. 

“We have one (registered nurse) right now and one registered diagnostic medical sonographer who does our ultrasounds,” Knopp said. “I’m hoping to hire another nurse because we’d like to have two clinic days. One of our nurses left a year ago and we’ve been down to one clinic day, but we’re trying to get that second.” 

Center Director Christy Youngers is a certified lactation counselor, Knopp said, which is a service Crossroads has been able to add this year. 

Unlike some fundraisers, the Crossroads banquet doesn’t involve an auction. Instead, donors are given an envelope and asked for either a one-time contribution or a pledge of regular donations. 

“I find that people that believe in life, they give out of their deep conviction,” Knopp said. “You don't usually need an auction for events like that, because people will just give because they believe.” 

    Steventhen Holland, who was born as the result of a gang-rape and experienced the foster systems and adoption, will be the speaker at the Crossroads Resource Center banquet Oct. 12.