Spoon River Pregnancy Center Celebrates Service, Looks to Expand

By: Forgottonia Times™ Report

The Spoon River Pregnancy Center held its annual fundraising banquet on November 7th, bringing together nearly 200 community members to celebrate the organization's achievements and share its vision for the future. Held at Wesley United Methodist Church in Canton, the evening was both a tribute to supporters and a call to action for continued investment in the Center's work.

Joan Russell, the Center's director, opened the evening with heartfelt thanks to the crowd, emphasizing the vital role that donors, volunteers, and community partners play in sustaining their mission. "People often think as a pregnancy center our main goal is to protect the baby," Russell said. "But we also work closely with the mom to ensure her safety and well being during the pregnancy and well beyond."

Core to the Center's mission is its commitment to "assisting individuals and families in unplanned or challenging pregnancy situations. With practical assistance and ongoing friendship, we strive to help women/couples make informed decisions by providing them with accurate information." Over the past year, this mission has translated into the distribution of more than 2,500 essential items—including car seats, diapers, and formula—and a host of parenting and childbirth classes aimed at empowering families. "We have to adapt over time to meet women where they are," Russel shared, accentuating that the care of each patient is tailored to their individual circumstances and needs.

The banquet also served as a springboard for the Center's aspirations. Russell announced intentions to move to a larger facility to accommodate the growing demand for their services. The Center currently operates out of a small building with just two patient rooms, limiting the number of clients they can serve each day. She invited the community to join in making the expansion a reality while reaffirming the desire to remain in Canton.

Attendees were treated to a beautifully curated dinner, followed by coffee donated by Seven Weeks Coffee, a business that dedicates a portion of its profits to supporting life-affirming organizations.

The banquet was also a pivotal moment in fundraising efforts for 2025. With an ever-expanding portfolio of services—including adoption referrals, physician connections, and resources tailored for fathers—the Center relies on the generosity of donors to continue its work.

For many, the evening was a reminder of the powerful impact a single organization can have when a community rallies behind it. From its free classes to the compassionate care provided to parents in need, the Spoon River Pregnancy Center has established itself as an anchor of support—and one with an eye toward a bigger, brighter future.