Voices

Planned Parenthood eyes new health center in Brattleboro

BRATTLEBORO — Next year, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England will celebrate its 50th anniversary. We're proud of our rich history and excited to look ahead to our future. We have a unique opportunity - even a duty - to be the model sexual- and reproductive-health-care provider in our state and in our region.

But, first, our health centers must mirror the quality care we provide.

More than 1,500 patients come to our health center in Brattleboro for exceptional sexual-, reproductive-, and women's-health services like annual exams, cancer screenings, birth control, pregnancy testing and options counseling, and sexually-transmitted-infection testing and treatment.

We are incredibly proud that our patients rave about the health care they receive. But our well-known longstanding health center, an old Victorian house, lacks the infrastructure necessary for modern health care, including adequate space to efficiently see patients and to mentor the next generation of practitioners.

We are proud to announce the 50th Anniversary Brattleboro Campaign, a $535,000 effort to transform our health center into a beautiful, state-of-the-art facility, along with the technology, services, and support that will better serve our community and enrich our patients' experiences.

We need to raise an initial $300,000 before we can move forward and give the community this essential health center.

We've already begun the work. Last month, to kick off the effort, comedian Cindy Pierce performed for a sold-out crowd at the New England Youth Theatre.

Not only did she inspire nonstop laughter, Cindy also added a serious note.

“Planned Parenthood is leading the charge on sexuality education and policies that give women choices about their sexual health,” she said. “These issues are very important to me both personally and professionally.”

“In all of my work as a comic storyteller, I hope to empower more people to get the information, support, and awareness they need to make healthy choices. I am honored to work with Planned Parenthood.”

In a world where sex and sexuality is often cloaked in shame and stigma, Planned Parenthood has the opportunity to be a bright spot. The women, men, and teens of Brattleboro deserve a health center they can be proud of - one that empowers them to make their own sexual-health-care decisions with comfort and respect.

Please join us by supporting this vital project. To learn more or to make a donation, contact Meghan McGeary at 802-448-9750 or [email protected].

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