Courtesy photo In this photo at Pregnancy Services of Delta County’s annual fundraising dinner, held at the Terrace Bay Inn on Oct. 3, Executive Director Jamie Fisher (center) gives the keynote address. She is surrounded by PSDC Capital Campaign Committee members Dr. Mary Whitmer, Virginia Hallfrisch, and Jennifer Drown.

ESCANABA — Pregnancy Services of Delta County (PSDC) held its Annual Fundraising Dinner, themed “Walking Hand in Hand with Men, Women and their Children” at the Terrace Bay Inn on Thursday, Oct. 3.

Approximately 270 attendees enjoyed a buffet dinner prepared by the culinary staff at The Freshwater Tavern, inside the Terrace Bay Inn. After the dinner, Vice President of the PSDC Board of Directors Judi King gave an update on the organization’s “Building a Future of Hope” capital campaign, noting that PSDC began providing ultrasound services for free to pregnant mothers in February 2024. The ultrasound machine was paid for by the local Knights of Columbus organization. She thanked the generous donors, and described how the staff, volunteers, and board work toward their mission “to provide life-affirming emotional, spiritual, and physical support for individuals vulnerable to abortion.”

Next, Carlynne, a client of PSDC, spoke about how much she appreciated the assistance PSDC provides her and her child through emotional support, childbirth classes, prayer, and material support in the form of baby clothes, diapers, and other essentials. Currently pregnant, Carlynne noted that she only wished that she would have known about Pregnancy Services when she’d had her first child.

Keynote speaker at the event, PSDC Executive Director Jamie Fisher, spoke about her own teen pregnancies and former addiction to drugs and alcohol, saying that when she became pregnant at age 16 as a sophomore in high school, she considered having an abortion. However, her then boyfriend (now husband) Joshua supported her keeping the baby and worked to support his new family. In a touching moment, she showed the ultrasound photo of her first child, Ariah, saying, “Had I not had an ultrasound, I think without a doubt that I would have ended my daughter’s precious life through abortion. But instead, I had a chance to see my baby and hear her heartbeat. It made me come to the realization that I was already a mother.”

This is when Fisher says she made serious changes in her life. She immediately stopped taking drugs and drinking alcohol, and later became a Christian.

“I am thankful for God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness. If I had not walked that path that I did, I would not be here today. I believe God has worked in and through me to help women choose life. But I have been able to help them only by God’s grace,” said Fisher, reflecting on her conversion to Christianity.

Fisher stressed that she is living proof that an unexpected pregnancy does not have to define a person, and that mothers who are faced with a pregnancy they did not plan, can still have a great life.

“We do not judge them and just assume that they will live in poverty for the rest of their lives,” Fisher said of PSDC’s clients. “Instead, we love them and help them see the value of their life and the value of their child’s life. As we mentor them, we help them see all the good things they have going for them in their lives, and that they can work to get to a better place.”

Mortgage balance of $105,000 paid off by Greg and Linda Yagodzinski

Fisher added that she is so thankful for the community’s support, including all those who worked to help pay the mortgage for the building at their new location at 2501 First Avenue North, Escanaba (the former U.P. State Credit Union building). Fisher then announced that local PSDC supporters, Greg and Linda Yagodzinski, generously paid off the building’s mortgage balance of $105,000.

In a dramatic moment, Fisher and other members of the PSDC Board shredded the mortgage papers onstage, which drew a round of applause from attendees.

Fisher noted that while PSDC’s mortgage is paid off, the Capital Campaign goal still has slightly over $39,000 left to raise for needed renovations.

“We can’t thank our supporters enough for their prayers and monetary gifts to make this dream a reality,” said Fisher.

Many donors and volunteers make PSDC successful

Two other generous donors of PSDC, Ken and Patricia Gartland, purchased the house at 1801 Ludington Street that previously housed PSDC, where it started as a pregnancy resource center in March 2015. The Gartlands charged a small monthly amount to PSDC for rent. Then, seven years later, at PSDC’s Fall 2022 Fundraising Banquet, Ken announced that he was going to give back the entire amount of rent that PSDC had paid — as a donation to the organization.

Staffed by a small group of four paid workers, Pregnancy Services is still run primarily by community volunteers with a mission to provide emotional and physical support for community women and families and is funded by donations and grants. They offer many educational classes, along with parenting and wellness programs.

PSDC also offers free lab-quality pregnancy tests, peer counseling on any subject related to the following topics: pregnancy options, adoption support, 24/7 crisis intervention, prenatal and postnatal support, STD education, and sexual risk avoidance. Additional services offered include crisis intervention, man-to-man mentoring, material assistance for families, referrals to community agencies, and post-abortion support. PSDC is open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, please contact 906-786-7474 or visit psdcpartners.org. For emergencies, text our 24-hour pregnancy help line at 906-786-7474 or call 800-712-HELP (4357).