Care Net held a charity banquet on Friday at the Mahoning Valley Country Club. The banquet was an update on their work in the Carbon County area and to raise money for their new Nesquehoning location which will serve the Panther Valley area.

The banquet drew 130 people on Friday night to hear from volunteers, the clients who were helped by the program and to update the community and supporters on what is being done to serve the local residents.Care Net is a program that helps women with pregnancy. The program not only offers free STD and pregnancy testing, but offers emotional and financial support to their clients.“Care Net is to educate and empower individuals and families to make life-affirming choices,” said Susan DeMara, director of Care Net of Carbon County. “We really listen to the women. We find out their situation and offer options.”Care Net was started on First Street in Lehighton over 20 years ago. DeMara started at Birth Right in Jim Thorpe. After the program folded, she and another volunteer reached out to an Allentown organization which helped them get a new location and get started with another program. The original name was Pregnancy Care Center.Care Net then came in and helped the organization with materials to help men and women in a pregnancy crisis. Care Net of Carbon County is independent and has its own board. Care Net International provides them with material and training for their ministry.The program offers counseling, adoption information, post-abortion support and information about STDs and relationship help for both women and men. The organization is faith-based.“Most of the clients are not religiously affiliated,” DeMara said. “We’re here to love and help everybody.”Care Net has a program to help mothers and fathers through counseling. Clients are able to participate in the Earn While You Learn program. This program helps educate the parents and allows them to earn “Mommy Money” and “Daddy Dollars” that can be spent at the boutique on items such as clothing, formula, wipes, maternity clothes and baby furniture. All of the items are new or in nearly new condition.DeMara hopes to be able to offer ultrasound testing in the future.“One thing I hear a lot after a woman has had an abortion is that she did not know that her baby had a heartbeat or fingers and toes,” DeMara said.The hope is to educate women on their pregnancies and to have them fully aware of what is going on in their bodies during their pregnancy.The organization is volunteer based. Many of the people who work there volunteer their time. A lot of volunteers have had personal experiences with abortion or pregnancy and use their knowledge to help these women who come to Care Net for guidance.Nurses who are in college also intern at Care Net and offer their services to clients. Two doctor offices also recommend their patients to go to the program when they are in need of personal and emotional help.Mandy Wilson is one of these women. Wilson came to Care Net during her second pregnancy to get help. She was directed there by her doctor.“They have really helped me throughout life as being a mom,” Wilson said. “They really helped me with getting a game plan and figuring out my situation.”Wilson’s first child was stillborn, and she did not know what to do during her second pregnancy. Care Net helped her find housing, work on her relationship with her then-boyfriend and offered financial help.Wilson’s now-husband used to go out and drink every night, but after participating in the men’s group started to stay home with his family after work.“It’s amazing,” Wilson said. “We pray every night before we eat dinner as a family. We go to church.”Wilson also sought out help after finding out her fourth pregnancy was at risk. Doctors all recommended she abort, but Care Net helped her make the decision to keep the baby. Care Net offered emotional support for Wilson through these times. She is now married with three kids and earned a college degree.“We are one big family there,” said Patti Garham, who is a full-time volunteer at Care Net. “We treat everyone with dignity and respect. We offer them choices and options.”Care Net is a nonprofit organization. All proceeds from the banquet will go to help start the Nesquehoning location. The banquet included dinner, a silent auction and music from A Change of Heart.Silent auction items were all donated by local businesses, including gym memberships, restaurant gift cards, rafting and kayaking adventures and spa gift certificates. Tables were sponsored by anonymous donations. Approximately 15 local businesses sponsored the Care Net banquet.Care Net accepts donations of both money and new baby items. They are also looking for donations to help open their Nesquehoning locations. Items like a lawn mower, laptops, desks, televisions, waiting room chairs, shelving and filing cabinets are in need as well as much more.Care Net’s Lehighton location is at 531 Mahoning St. and the Nesquehoning location will be 250 W. Catawissa St. More information can be found at

www.carenetcarbon.org.