John McCallum | FāVS News Reporter
While many celebrate the holidays surrounded by abundance, those struggling to meet basic needs often feel their lack more acutely during this season.
Palouse Care Network, a Christian nonprofit with offices in Moscow and Pullman, works year-round to address those needs by providing free pregnancy services, pre- and post-birth resources, and education on family planning and parenting to women and families in the region.
PCN provides family pregnancy needs
Many of PCN’s clients are low-income and struggle to provide material needs for their children. These needs exist year-round, but are often acutely felt during the holiday season.
PCN Assistant Resource Coordinator Elizabeth O’Loughlin said businesses, organizations or individuals wishing to help out can do so by contacting her or Resource Coordinator Kathleen Richter and asking about “gift tags.” The tags list items clients need. They are not necessarily specific gifts and can be tailored in price and quantity to meet the donors’ abilities.
The new or in-good-condition items span a wide range of needs, generally in the age range from infants to children ages 5-6. These include everyday needs such as infant formula, baby food, bathing and washing items to diapers, maternity and infant to young child clothing — and at this time of year, warm clothing — along with toys and books.
“Formula, baby food, diapers and wipes are always needed,” O’Loughlin said. “However, the larger diaper sizes aren’t as often donated so we will ask for specific sizes when we’re low.”
PCN Chief Executive Officer Amy McNelly said they can also use larger items such as cribs, highchairs, playpens, bedding, breast pumps and strollers.
“These aren’t as frequently donated in our community,” she added.
PCN also helps its clients through the “Adopt-a-Family” program. Clients enrolled in PCN classes and services are paired with families in the community, with the latter helping out with daily and gift needs.
McNelly said families and clients are paired up in November. O’Loughlin added PCN has 18 clients currently in the Adopt-A-Family program, but has “dozens” more who don’t qualify because they aren’t able to attend the classes due to work schedules, child care requirements or other reasons.
These families, who range from a single mother with two children to a family of seven, still need these items, O’Loughlin said, which is where the gift tag program comes in. And at this time of year, it’s something to put under the Christmas tree, if they can afford one.
“For some of our families, this is their Christmas gift,” she said. “It’s not coming from anywhere else.”
Emmanuel Baptist chips in to help
One Palouse-area organization stepping up to help PCN is Emmanuel Baptist Church. Pastor Joel Moore said they selected PCN not only because of their anti-abortion position but also because their approach is one of assistance rather than confrontation.
“They help provide beyond just having a baby,” he said.
Emmanuel Baptist’s Children’s Ministry contacted PCN about their gift tag program and erected a “Giving Tree” where the tags hang on the branches. Congregation members wishing to help pick a tag off the tree and provide the gift.
Moore said it’s another way the church, which has been in Pullman for over 50 years, fulfills its Christ-centered mission of reaching out to people. The church has several programs with which it provides for needs throughout the year such as Pullman’s Community Action Center.
“We don’t want to be a holy huddle,” Moore said. “We try to help our community where we can. If someone is hungry, we’d like to get them some food. If a child is cold, we’d like to give them a coat.”
PCN services in the Palouse area
O’Loughlin said PCN is supported year-round, financially and materially, by churches like Emmanuel, along with area businesses and other organizations. According to information on its website, the organization began as Open Door Pregnancy Center in Moscow, Idaho, in 1982, first located above Peck’s Shoe Clinic on East Third Street.
It moved to its current location at 1515 West A Street in 2011 and became Palouse Care Network in 2012.
In 2022 it opened a branch in Pullman near the Washington State University campus at 1540 NE Stadium Way. In 2024, it launched a mobile clinic ministry.
PCN services are free, confidential and open to anyone. Medical services include pregnancy testing, limited obstetrical ultrasounds, option consultations, female STI/STD testing and reproductive health exams.
“We never provide, refer for, or recommend an abortion,” PCN states on its website.
The organization teaches a variety of classes for expecting or current parents on a wide variety of topics. It also distributes material resources collected through donations.
“These donations really do change lives,” McNelly said.
For Moore at Emmanuel Baptist, those donations not only change the lives of those on the receiving end, but also on the giving, he said. For example, research has shown gift giving can help reduce stress, lower blood pressure and produce a “helper’s high” that “boosts self-esteem, elevates happiness and combats feelings of depression.”
“It’s one of the most fun things I do,” Moore said. “I don’t know why people wouldn’t have fun helping people.”
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