“My children are my best friends,” says Libbie, a client from NewBeginnings. When Libbie visited NewBeginnings it wasn’t because she wanted to find help and tools to help her through her pregnancy, she wanted to end it.

“When I came to NewBeginnings and learned I was pregnant, I wanted to find out what my options were. I was not planning to have the baby and I was looking for NewBeginnings to help me find a place to have an abortion,” Libbie said.  Through counseling, an ultrasound and some life-changing words from her mom, Libbie had a change of heart and decided to carry the baby. Nine months after she walked through the doors of NewBeginnings, she delivered a baby boy that she named Joshua.

“I can’t imagine life without him,” says Libbie. “He is my best friend and we have so much fun together.”

Throughout Libbie’s nine months of pregnancy she was part of the Earn While You Learn Program (EWYL) with Ann Ludlam as her mentor.  “Ann has helped me so much,” says Libbie. “She was a positive person for me to talk to when I had so many things going on. She knows that I love my kids and wants to help me.”  Through the EWYL program Libbie learned how to budget and buy a car and not spend money before it came in.

“Ann was always telling me, ‘don’t spend your money until you have it!’ and with a small income and children to feed, the program has really helped me learn good budgeting lessons, but also provided me with practical items that I really needed such as diapers, baby wipes and a car seat.”

“The people at NewBeginnings are so friendly,” adds Libbie. “When I walk through the doors now it’s more like going home to see friends and family.”