Published: June 26, 2009 10:00 am      

New Name, Same Commitment to Care and Confidentiality

A new sign and logo greet people coming to 722 Broadway Street in Pella. The house is the base for what, until recently, was the Pregnancy Care Center. However, expanded service offerings and a desire to resonate with male clientele have resulted in a name change. The organization now offers pregnancy-associated care as well as sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing under the name Pathways of Pella.

“We needed a name that better depicted what we are doing for our clients,” said Pathways of Pella Director Marilyn Van Mersbergen. “We’ve added programs in each of the last two years. We feel the name Pathways of Pella better represents our mission to help guide our clients with not only health services but also emotional and spiritual support.”

Pathways of Pella offers free pregnancy testing and counseling for mothers-to-be. In 2008, the organization added the Heritage Builders program, which provides parenting instruction and allows clients to earn “baby bucks” that can be used to buy car seats, cribs, diapers and more.

In 2009, Pathways of Pella began offering free testing for two of the most commonly reported STIs: Chlamydia and gonorrhea. Tests are given on Mondays and results are available at a follow-up appointment on Thursdays. “By making the testing more readily available, our hope is that more people will seek testing and treatment,” said Van Mersbergen.

“For males and females facing hard realities and decisions, Pathways of Pella truly is a place to turn,” said Van Mersbergen.

For more information regarding the services of Pathways of Pella or how you can help, call 641-628-4827 or go to www.pccpella.org.