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Published: Tuesday, Sep. 04, 2012 / Updated: Friday, Aug. 31, 2012 03:20 PM

Lake Wylie groups back Fort Mill pregnancy center

Pregnancy center to get ultrasound

FORT MILL -- 

Palmetto Pregnancy Center began seeing clients in February. Yet it’s what those clients will begin seeing by the end of the year that has volunteers excited.

That’s when the Fort Mill location should add an ultrasound machine, one of four pregnancy center locations in York County. Palmetto Pregnancy has a Lake Wylie and two Rock Hill locations.

“We then will be able to let women be aware of exactly what’s going on in their bodies,” said Trudy Laub, executive director.

Palmetto Pregnancy offers services including pregnancy tests, educational classes, clothing and diapers, counseling and post-abortion recovery group. The goal is to provide safe, confidential service with accurate information free of charge, Laub said.

“If there is a need,” she said, “we want people to know that we’re available.”

Fort Mill is “starting to pick up,” Laub said, and school guidance counselors and others who might steer potential clients there know about the facility.

Len Turi, director of the Respect For Life ministry through Knights of Columbus Council 14475 out of All Saints Catholic Church in Lake Wylie, helped get Lake Wylie’s center an ultrasound machine. Despite Fort Mill not being within his group’s footprint, they’re helping again.

“The Fort Mill area has grown rapidly,” Turi said. “The past several years there’s been a new high school and new middle schools. Those age groups are in or moving into an area where they may need the services of a pregnancy center.”

Turi’s group is more than halfway toward its goal of raising $18,000, which will be matched by a national Knights of Columbus to purchase the about $36,000 machine.

“They’re able to have a window to the womb,” Turi said. “They’re able to see what’s happening.”

While his group plans a $1,000 donation soon, another Lake Wylie group Sweet Repeat Charitable Foundation, a thrift shop-funded organization, is planning to help, too, Turi said.

Public donations also are accepted. Contributions may be mailed to All Saints Knights of Columbus RFL Fort Mill, P.O. Box 5443, Lake Wylie, SC 29710. For more information, visit palmettopregnancycenter.org.