Archives for July 2026

In 1998, an idea was brewing: the need for a ministry centered on assisting women and families facing an unexpected pregnancy with tangible resources, trusted service referrals, and, most importantly, compassionate, open-ended advocacy and encouragement.

This was not a novel idea. Since the first recognized pregnancy resource center in California around 1968, communities have recognized this need. Even here in Washington State, by the early 1980s, a handful of pregnancy resource centers dotted the landscape. The mission itself was not new.

In 2010, it was decided that Next Step—known then as Angelorum, for those of you who have been with us since the beginning—would begin offering medical services. Essential care such as pregnancy testing and early obstetric ultrasounds became available to the women and girls in our community. They received accurate, evidence-based early pregnancy care, a transformative first look into the womb, and compassionate support that extended beyond practical assistance.

But what about the practical?

What about the diapers, wipes, blankets, onesies, strollers, swaddles, books, and little hand-held stuffies? What about nursing bras, breast pumps, formula, and Dr. Brown’s bottles?

Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, many pregnancy resource centers began shifting their model, broadening their focus from primarily material support to medical services. Some moved away from the traditional diaper pantry model altogether in favor of a comprehensive medical approach.

And that’s not to suggest it was the wrong decision. The strategy of strengthening life-affirming pregnancy care through compassionate medical care, innovation, and reliable information is a valuable one.

But the gaps in support—and the very reason Next Step was founded more than 28 years ago—still exist today.

That is why Next Step continues to live out its original mission: serving the immediate needs of those facing unplanned pregnancies by providing practical resources that help create a safe, healthy home for both mother and child.

All of this is to say that Next Step Pregnancy Services believes in caring for the whole family. Offering a wide range of material goods, referrals to community resources, our newborn layette program, and filled diaper bags alongside our accredited, compassionate medical care remains an essential part of our whole-person approach.

The very real circumstance of a young father who needs an emergency supply of diapers for his newborn while waiting three more days until payday is the reality for many of the families who walk through our doors. The mother of four whose children are outgrowing their pajamas faster than she can hand them down and who simply needs a few extras is another story we hear again and again. The new mother who, through no fault of her own, is unable to breastfeed and quickly discovers that even generic infant formula costs more than her limited paycheck can cover? She comes to us, too.

Because of you—your generosity, your prayers, and the faithful service of our volunteers—we are able to provide diapers, pajamas, formula, and so much more to anyone who needs them, whenever they need them.

And we’ll continue to offer the Diaper Pantry alongside our exemplary, servant-hearted medical care—always.

I can vividly remember the long nights as a new mother, awake and caring for my newborn, whispering in the dark. Sleep was such a fleeting thing and, as I’m sure other mothers will agree, its almost as if you are not ever really asleep. Just ‘resting your eyes’ really. So in tune you are with your baby. Their heart and yours – truly beat in simultaneous rhythm. 

I recently learned something so beautifully profound I was eager to share it with you. There is a cloistered community of nuns in the hills of Tehachapi, California who, among the many things they do such as making cheese, breeding dogs, and selling sheep, goats, and cows, they also rise each and every night, at midnight, to pray.
Not just any prayer that comes to mind or for just any person but specifically to pray together for an hour for new mothers who are also awake, caring for their babies. 

What a beautiful act of love. 

This is the statement from the Sisters on this practice;
“By waking in the middle of the night, we are expressing our readiness to meet [Jesus] when He comes. But, for so many, midnight can also be a time of darkness, loneliness, and fear. Like the selfless mothers whom we hear from, who wake up at this hour because their children are in need, we also wake up to attend to the spiritual needs of souls all over the world, and especially to those most in need of a mother’s caringlove.”

As Catholic Review writer Rita Buettner says,
“Next time you wake up during the night, maybe you can send your own heartfelt prayer into the darkness. God is listening, and he knows who needs it most.” (https://catholicreview.org/praying-through-the-night/)

You can learn more about this community of Sisters here : 
Norbertine Canonesses of the Bethlehem Priory of St. Joseph

Every time a woman chooses life we rejoice. For her, for her baby, and for life itself. And every time there is new life there are new possibilities, new challenges, new everything.
And that’s where Next Step comes in. At least, for some of it. 

I came across this animated video that had been posted on X by, frankly, a group I tend to not always agree with. But I’m always one for respectful discourse and learning new things. 

https://youtu.be/9Orm24xknIc?si=jA_dX_xUFmqGcIql

The video struck me and successfully hit upon what so many young women go through when faced with an unexpected pregnancy. And those are many of the young women who find our clinic.
In fact, to date this year we’ve had 23 women find our clinic with the intention of aborting their child. Not necessarily uncertain and seeking answers but women who were very aware of what is growing inside and set on their intention to terminate.
Women who are being convinced they are not ready, not experienced, not capable enough. Being convinced abortion is ‘your best option’, that ‘you deserve a future’. Every reason under the sun to simply make it go away. Those are the conversations our nurses are up against. 

These are women and girls who have been surrounded by the devaluation of life long before motherhood was part of their story.

We need to change the story.
That is our vocation. That is the sacred calling of
Next Step Pregnancy Services.