Earn-while-you-learn offers incentives to new parents
Suquana found help through AAA Crisis Pregnancy Center, a partner with OBI.
 Suquana and her son, Jy' Haven meet with Peggy, director of the center.
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POSTED: April 4, 2007
By Staci Dennis
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - Pregnant and alone in an apartment with no heat, little furniture and no winter clothes, Suquana was quickly running out of options.
While on a walk with her friend, she saw a sign for the AAA Crisis Pregnancy Center, a partner with Operation Blessing in Fayetteville, N.C. She went inside to find out more information and walked away with a wealth of new resources.
The center offers free pregnancy tests, phone counseling, clothing, food and other financial support. In addition, they also provide free ultrasounds to expectant mothers.
OBI and the Crisis Pregnancy Center helped Suquana by providing her and baby-to-be with winter clothes, furniture for her apartment as well as oil for heat and plenty of food.
"She saw the challenge of motherhood and embraced it," said Peggy, Crisis Pregnancy Center director referring to Suquana.
In addition to providing new moms and dads with practical baby items, the center also offers an Earn-While-You-Learn program that teaches new mothers and fathers basic parenting skills.
Completion of the eight-week program allows parents to earn points that can be used in a "baby store" for the purchase of items for their newborn. Typically, there are 12 students in each course.
Suquana completed the class and says she is more determined to finish school and make the best parenting decisions possible with her son, Jy' Haven, now five months.
Suquana is now in her junior year at college and hopes to work in broadcast journalism. Until then, she drops her son off with her grandmother during the day while she attends school and works.
"He is so full of energy and life," Suquana said. "I can't give up on that."
How You Can Help
You can be a part of Operation Blessing's ongoing work by helping to support these and other life-changing projects. Through monthly donations, single moms such as Suquana and her son are given a chance to succeed and bring positive change to their community.
Click here to make an online donation today.
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