Birthright International – Brief History
For over 50 years, Birthright has been helping women with unplanned pregnancies.
Birthright began in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1968 when Louise Summerhill, a busy housewife and mother of seven children, felt something should be done to help women facing unplanned pregnancies. By offering love, hope, support and resources, Birthright has grown to become a pregnancy support service with hundreds of centres throughout Canada, the United States and Africa.
Birthright is committed to providing confidential, non-judgmental support to any woman who is pregnant or thinks she might be pregnant, no matter her age, race, circumstances, religion, marital status or financial situation. Birthright is a charitable organization that relies on the dedication, time and talents of volunteers and the generosity of donations to ensure it can persevere in supporting pregnant women.
With Birthright, she is never alone. We help women discover hope for the future through friendship, love and support. We know the importance of simply being with her, being a compassionate listener and respecting that it is her life and her plan. Birthright is available to support her for as long as she needs us, from the time of her first call or visit, throughout her pregnancy and after.
Along with providing love and support, we help her with essentials such as pregnancy testing, medical, housing and counseling referrals as well as maternity and baby items. Through Birthright’s strong support system, she can realize hope for her future.
Our Free and Confidential Helpline is available 24/7.
Birthright Helpline: 1-800-550-4900
Birthright Peekskill – History
Birthright has been a presence in Peekskill for more than 40 years. From beginnings in a donated office space on the first floor of a professional building on Main Street (between James and Broad streets) to its current location at 826 South Street, volunteers have found a way to be present to women in need of care and compassion around their pregnancies. After outgrowing the donated space at the house on Main Street, Birthright moved to the basement of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church off Pugsley Park. The entrance was known as the Red Door of Pugsley Park. A year or so later the office moved to the second floor of St. Peter’s which had a kitchen. This was a welcome location because nutrition classes could be offered to mothers.
In the early 1980’s, the organization was on the move, this time to the Knights of Columbus building on Union Avenue. In the late 1980’s space was rented on the second floor of a law office on South Street. In the mid-90’s, Birthright moved to space on the ground floor at 1027 Park Street where they stayed for nearly 20 years. At that time, the Peekskill office was part of Birthright of Northern Westchester and Putnam with locations in Carmel and Ossining.
In 2012 when Birthright of Northern Westchester and Putnam Counties closed due to a lack of funding, ten former volunteers from the Peekskill office met and decided they couldn’t leave a void in Peekskill.
Birthright International gave special permission (temporarily) to volunteers to use a cell phone, which was passed daily among the volunteers, to operate the Peekskill ‘office’. Women or their families were met in homes, churches, fast food restaurants, wherever was convenient. A year later, in 2013, all the official papers were filed and Birthright of Peekskill was official with a physical office at the current South Street location. Today there is a Board of Directors and more than 30 office volunteers keeping the office open 5 days a week, led by two co-directors.
MEET OUR VOLUNTEERS
At Birthright, we understand the challenges related to unplanned pregnancies. Birthright is available to women for as long as they need us. We offer love, friendship, and support to women who are pregnant or think they may be pregnant. Birthright is interdenominational and is not involved in any political activities, or lobbying. Birthright’s focus is on loving the mother, reminding her that there is hope and ensuring she is not alone.
TESTIMONIALS / OUR CLIENTS SAY
Now you’re pregnant and you’re not sure what to do. Emotions may be overwhelming and the circumstances may feel impossible. Birthright wants you to know that you are not alone. There is hope for you and your baby. We are here to help and only a phone call away 24/7.
Thank you Birthright for everything you do for everyone. God bless you. Every kid is happy, but Mom is more happy. You help a lot. Thank you also for the supplies. You help my daughter every month
We do more than provide direction, support, love and daily necessities to raise their young children. We give of ourselves and it is evident that these young mothers (and mothers to be) sincerely appreciate the new friendships they have made at Birthright.
God bless you for all you do for the babies
