Chester County Connect Care Adapts to Client Needs During COVID-19



Coatesville, PA, March 31, 2020 – Chester County Connect Care (CCCC), a local Crisis Pregnancy Medical Care Center with locations in Coatesville, Kennett Square and West Chester remains committed to helping those in need during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. CCCC provides medical, educational, emotional and resource support to women facing unplanned pregnancies.
In an effort to follow the government's social distancing and stay-at-home mandates, CCCC has created a system for continuing to support those in our community who are in need, while keeping our staff, volunteers and clients safe. Anyone facing an unplanned pregnancy, needing educational/emotional/resource support, or material assistance for their families (such as diapers, wipes, formula, laundry soap, etc.) is encouraged to call CCCC during normal business hours where they will talk to a live CCCC staff person. During after-hours they can leave a voicemail and a staff member will return their call the next business day. Once their needs are determined, the appropriate staff person will make a return phone call and determine best resources to help them.
Medical appointments are being scheduled as needed by appointment and all other services are happening via phone or video conferencing. Executive Director, Myriam Ruager stated, “This modified process is allowing clients to continue receiving the same top-notch support they received prior to the pandemic. We are still here to provide care and support, and we are seeing the need is even greater during these unsettling times.”
Those calling us in need of material assistance will receive a return phone call within 24 business hours, giving CCCC time to search for their needed items online and then have the shipment mailed directly to the person in need (eliminating multiple touch points in the process) or creating emergency bags that can be picked up on our front porch in all three of our centers. More than 40 family emergency bags have already been distributed to families in the community.
“We are very fortunate to live in a community that is standing beside us during this unprecedented time,” stated Ruager. “There are many families in need of basic necessities, and we are here to help them in every way possible. Having been in operation for 35 years, we are a safe-haven for many disadvantaged families in Chester County. This puts us in a unique position in which we can either provide for their need directly or connect them with other community resources to get them what they need. As the old saying goes, It takes a village… and we are here to be a part of that village.”
Willowdale Chapel, a long-time supporter of CCCC, provided groceries to 25 of our clients on Sunday, March 29, 2020. Victory Church in Norristown completed a drive-through donation collection on Saturday, March 28th to stock CCCC emergency bag supplies. Other local churches are also raising funds and providing support, but more help is needed to ensure our smallest community members are cared for with basic needs, such as food and diapers.
If you are interested in helping those in need you can help in three ways. We set up a COVID-19 emergency fund on our website. All monies collected through this account will be used to purchase necessity items for clients affected by this pandemic. Or, you can purchase from the CCCC Amazon Wish List or CCCC Walmart Wish List. Items purchased will be shipped to our Coatesville Center and will help keep our shelves stocked as we continue to make up emergency bags in all three Centers for those in need in the coming weeks. Links to all giving options can be found on our website homepage: ccconnectcareinfo.org. Lists are being update daily as client needs change.
Just last year, CCCC served over 3,900 appointments throughout Chester County. The medical services include pregnancy tests, limited-ultrasounds, prenatal vitamins and proof of pregnancy. Educational visits include abortion facts and alternatives, sexual integrity information, adoption guidance, post-abortion healing, anger management, homeless prevention support, parenting support up through the teenage years, and discipline support. CCCC also assists with community referrals and client-earned material assistance.
CCCC is a Pregnancy Care Medical Center that exists to educate and empower individuals and their families to make life-affirming choices. All services are 100% free and offered in both English and Spanish. Families are supported physically, emotionally, and financially through basic pregnancy care, parenting education, peer counseling, a family advocacy program, and community referrals. Offices are located in Coatesville, Kennett Square and West Chester. CCCC is a 501c(3) non-profit organization that is 90% volunteer-based. To learn more, please visit www.ccconnectcareinfo.org or call 610.383.0930