Heartbeat of Monroe marking 50th anniversary

Volunteers are still needed to aid women in crisis pregnancies at Heartbeat of Monroe as the agency marks its 50th year.

In the wake of growing financial hardships, formula shortages and inflation, Heartbeat is finding itself busier than ever meeting the needs of pregnant women.

“Clients are seeking us more and more,” Margaret Horvath, executive director of the agency for the past 15 years, said recently. “We do our very best to meet the needs of everyone who walks into our doors.”

The needs are becoming more abundant for women facing a crisis, Horvath said.

“Our clients' needs have grown so much over this last year,” she said. “At times, many of their heavy stories are hard to hear, but our volunteers always pour love into every client. They show up each day with their special skill sets … we would be lost without them.”

The pregnancy resource and care center is at 123 W. First St., Suite A, just west of Sieb Plumbing and Heating. Heartbeat is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays and from 1 to 6 p.m. on Thursdays. It is one of 95 pregnancy centers in Michigan and one of three Christian-based centers in Monroe County. The others are New Beginnings Mercy House in Ida and Saleh’s Center of Hope in Monroe. New Beginnings is marking its 25th year in 2023.

Heartbeat is facing its biggest challenges since it was founded 50 years ago, Horvath said. The center can have up to 50 walk-ins a week. Sometimes, as many as 10 of those are new visitors.

“The needs are fairly constant,” she said. “Babies still need diapers, formula and clothes.”

The center provides a number of free services and material needs, including linens, toiletries, counseling and car seats. The agency recently switched over its clothing closet from winter to spring and summer outfits.

“We’ve gotten more calls as the weather gets warmer,” the director said last week.

Agency had humble beginnings

Heartbeat opened in 1973 with an office at the Arthur Lesow Community Center, then moved several times before settling at its present location in 2014. Mary Steffes, Mary Ann Steinhauser and Albina Fix were among the original founders of the agency. Debbie Wykes, Vickie Mazur and Shelly (Duffy) Ratz served as directors before Horvath. The clothing closet is named after Ratz, who served as executive director for 10 years before her death in 2008.

“I’ve only been involved since the 1990s,” Horvath, 78, said. “Pregnancy tests were very expensive then – about $15 to $20. We do pregnancy tests here and were the only free place in town.”

In the 1990s, about 150 clients were served each year. In 2022, the number of clients grew to more than 1,300 and over 1,700 visitors during the year, she said.

So far in 2023, the count keeps climbing, with 674 clients served and 542 visits as of April 30, the director said.

“So far, our numbers have about doubled from 2022 to this year,” Horvath said.

Two years ago, the center was overflowing with formula to give free to its clients. But that changed drastically last year with shortages and the high cost of the product limiting the center’s supply.

“Formula is definitely a problem,” Horvath said. “The price has really gone up. Thanks to donations, the agency has kept up with demand” for the product.

“Our donors have been so faithful,” she said. “They cared for us and in doing so, we have kept up with demand.”

Education courses, ultrasounds aid women

Enrollment in educational classes is also climbing. Besides servicing walk-ins, the center also offers parenting classes through a program called Bright Course. The classes are held both in person and online, Horvath said.

“We have dozens of parents taking classes,” she said. “They are enrolled in parenting, child development and life skills. That’s where our success lies – by becoming better parents, they raise better kids.”

Heartbeat takes parenting classes very seriously, she noted. The agency has the ability to send videos and DVDs to the clients’ phones or their emails. That way, clients can get enriched content on how to thrive in pregnancy, parenting and life skills.

Dr. Valerie Tyldesley, a former volunteer who has a doctorate in psychology, is director of the online classes and also assists clients involved in the state’s Child Protective Services.

The ultrasound ministry also has grown. The ultrasound machine was purchased by the Monroe Knights of Columbus two years ago. The center offers ultrasound exams every Tuesday and has one sonographer – Sandra Regneir – to show images of babies in the womb to parents, Horvath said.

“When a woman comes in for an ultrasound appointment, we tell them about our services and how we can help them,” she said. “The ultrasound program is running smoothly and thriving.”

The favorite class is the “Newborn Care Class” taught by Debbie Dushane, nurse manager at Heartbeat.

“They are given a bag of items and we tell them to take the newborn class with Debbie,” Horvath said.

The women are sent Bright Course classes all throughout their pregnancy, she said.

“We’ve had several new moms tell us recently that thanks to Debbie and the Bright Course videos they went into labor and delivery with confidence, and caring for their newborn seemed less intimidating.”

Volunteers are key, but more needed

The center and its 25 volunteers served more than 1,300 clients in 2022, an increase over 2021 and 2020, both of which were slowed by COVID-19, she said.

“We used to have 70 volunteers in the 1990s,” Horvath said. “I was one of them. We can use more today. Women are being hammered. If we can help out with materials and care, it's all the better."

Volunteers are key to the organization’s success because they teach and give parents confidence in themselves, she said.

“Volunteers here are exceptional,” the director said. “We’ve become like a family. Our clients realize this is a safe, peaceful place to come for material goods or someone to talk to. People want to help and realize how much evil came from Proposal 3. With them, we are changing lives one heartbeat at a time.”

Heartbeat is funded totally with donations from churches, individuals and a few businesses plus a couple of grants. Its main fundraiser is the annual Joy of Life banquet that will be held Oct. 6 at Monroe Golf & Country Club. Genevieve Marnon, legislative director for Right to Life of Michigan, will be the guest speaker. She spoke two years ago at the banquet.

Brenda Ramos is program director for Heartbeat. Dr. Philip Fleming, medical director at Heartbeat, also oversees five pregnancy centers in Michigan.

Sarah Egan recently stepped down as assistant director after three years to work full time. She continues to be a volunteer.

Heartbeat is governed by a six-member volunteer board headed by Mary Zaums. Other members include Margaret Burger, Ronnessa Costelli, Fran LaPlainte, Robex Stoiber and Ernie Renaud. Other board members who recently stepped down include John Doty, Brian Finley and Tyldesley. Doty served as president in 2022 and Tyldesley was vice president.

More information about Heartbeat is available at 734-243-6550 or at heartbeatofmonroe@att.net.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Heartbeat of Monroe marking 50th anniversary