The previous record for the fundraiser was $91,000 and this year’s event drew a sold-out crowd of 400, she said.
The pregnancy center has until the end of December to raise the rest of the money, according to Keller. The 62-year-old Middletown native is confident the goal will be reached because the city “never turns its back on the needy.”
The center has leased the building from Tim Ball for five years, and he has offered to sell the building for $250,000, much less than its appraised value, according to Keller.
“It’s a blessing,” she said of the 6,000-square-foot building on Roosevelt Boulevard that will allow the Community Pregnancy Center to increase its services and eliminate monthly payments.
Keller plans to start a 10-week counseling program called Rendered Pure for physically and mentally abused women. She’s seeing an increase in women involved in prostitution and human trafficking. She called them “broken and wounded” women.
“But they are cherished by God, loved by us,” she said. “We want to get them out of that life.”
Keller said the center is on “target” to have 2,000 client visits this year. Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, the center was closed for one week and still provided diapers through a drive-through service, she said.
When people were told to work from home during COVID-19, Keller said that provided them an opportunity to clean out their closets and donate them to the center. She said volunteers are constantly sorting the donated clothes.
Donated diapers from surrounding states have been delivered to the center and Keller’s Middletown residence, she said.
“That shows what a big heart people have,” she said.
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