By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Sandy French continues to share a part of her past that she considers a “mistake” in hopes of helping others.

She said she never expected to be telling her story, but God had a different plan.

It was 48 years ago, I had an abortion,” she said. “It was the worst decision I ever made. I was 18 and abortion had just become legal in this country.”

She is now a services coordinator at Pregnancy Resources, and each year helps to raise funds through the baby bottle campaign where empty baby bottles are distributed and returned with contributions used to provide services and supplies at the Pregnancy Resource Centers in Moline and Davenport, the mobile van, and just recently an office has been opened on Thursday afternoons at the QC Mission, 2015 2 W Ave., East Moline.

The baby bottle campaign currently is underway and anyone interested in helping by donating can obtain an empty bottle at Grace United Methodist Church, 318 North Center St. in Geneseo, or at either of the two Pregnancy Resource Centers, 3825 16th St., Moline, or 2706 West Central Park in Davenport.

The baby bottles can be filled with change, bills or checks.

For more information, contact Liz Ryan, outreach and events coordinator for Pregnancy Resources, at 309-797-3636, or French at 309-441-5839.

Families are encouraged to keep the baby bottles for three to four weeks and then return them.

From the radio is how French learned about Pregnancy Resources needing volunteers.

“It seemed I heard it every time I turned on the radio,” she said. “Finally I said, ‘Okay God. I’ll take the training.’ At the first session I admitted I had had an abortion. After the training, I thought I had many reasons not to volunteer, but He kept up the pressure.”

Before she could meet with clients, she had to take the Post-Abortion Counseling and Education Bible study class, “Forgiven and Set Free.”

“I thought I didn’t need it, I had made my peace with God, but to help others, I needed to complete the Bible study myself…I found that God wanted me to help others and to do that I was going to have to tell them about my experience, not just about my abortion, but also my healing experience. But I still said I would never tell my loved ones.”

In 2010 she did tell her family, and said her honesty has opened new doors of communication with them.

Pregnancy Resources provides a variety of free services enabling clients to choose life, French said, from pregnancy tests, limited ultrasounds, parenting programs, adoption education, abortion education, maternity clothes, car seats, diapers, abstinence education for individuals and local schools, to beginner Bible studies and post-abortion grief assistance.

“Our ultrasound program is important for women tying to make a decision about their pregnancy, and it helps them to connect with their child,” French said.

Post-abortion Bible studies benefit women, French said….”We have people come to the Bible studies who had an abortion as long as 50 years ago, before they were legal. I believe the studies let them know they are not alone. God can use them and abortion is not an unforgivable sin.”

She said Pregnancy Resources helps people see beyond the crisis of the moment…”If I had gone somewhere like Pregnancy Resources, I would not have had an abortion.”

“Recently, on my volunteer shift, a young woman walked in for a pregnancy test. She came in crying, not knowing what to do. I was able to listen to her, care about her, offer physical resources to help her in her pregnancy, and also spiritual resources by sharing God’s truth about life and His plan for salvation,” French shared.

It was during that same shift French said when a young man called about parenting classes, specifically for fathers.

“I was able to get him signed up,” she said. “He was thrilled that they were not only available, but free. We are able to provide these free resources because of individuals, churches, groups and businesses that donate. And I am able to meet and speak to so many women and men that I would never see otherwise and offer them God’s love, and I love that!”

“It’s really a privilege to try and see them as God sees them. I volunteer at Pregnancy Resources to bless others, and I end up being blessed so much,” she added.

French was employed as a secretary at Rock Island Arsenal for three years, and for 30 years as a secretary and marketing-publications coordinator at Deere & Co., Moline, retiring in 2007.

She and her husband, Art French, have three daughters, one son; eight grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.