WEC celebrates 15 years and new facility

This year the Woman's Enrichment Center of Blairsville celebrates 15 years of serving the women of Northeast Georgia and Western North Carolina. A highlight of the year was the Center's move to new quarters on July 7.

An Open House was held on October 7th at the new facility at 11 Patrice Drive in Blairsville. The day was a huge success, thanks to the generous support of our many sponsors: United Community Bank of Blairsville, Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, Exit Realty Mountain Properties (Derrick Whittle, owner), Mountain View Funeral Home, and Signs Fast Hayesville. Our

delicious food was prepared by Immaculate Heart of Mary Community, Life Commission, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church ladies and their Junior High Class students, and our Board of Directors.

Also giving generously of their time to help at the Open House were: Executive Director Chris Scoggins, Chairman of the Board Jerry Rousseau, Office Manager David Burford, Ultrasound Specialist Charles Cattanach, and Volunteer Coordinator Deborah Burford. A very special thank you to Jeannine Murphy, her daughter Katie, and Helen Diemer of St. Francis Catholic Church for all their hard work.

An all-day landscaping project was completed just before the Open House. Many businesses and talented individuals contributed trees, bushes and lots of labor to bring this project to completion. Heartfelt thanks to: John W. Nachtrieb, Landscapes and Design, Down to Earth Garden Center, Laurel Springs Nursery and Landscape, Valley Nursery, The Basket Barn, and Dyer Farm and Construction. Our sponsor for the landscaping was Eagle Restoration Cabin Care and Maintenance.

Volunteer labor was provided by: John Nachtrieb, Union County Republican Women,and Mountain Area Christian Academy. The day's lunch was donated by Pappa's Pizza and Bi-Lo of Blairsville. We thank our entire community

for supporting us in this worthwhile, life-saving ministry. If you haven't seen our new facility, please stop by for a tour. We are open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m.

A ministry of the Appalachian Area Crisis Pregnancy Center, the new Blairsville facility offers many free and confidential services to women experiencing an unplanned pregnancy or other life crisis. Some of the help provided is pregnancy testing and ultrasound, parenting and childbirth classes, counseling, and clothing for both mother and baby.