“Woman to Woman” Lends Helping Hand

By: Andrea Schiarizzi
Posted In: News

In 1997, Madeline Nugent had an idea for how she could help women in crisis pregnancies. Twelve years, several offices and a couple of states later, what began as a small idea is now helping women in crisis pregnancies on Aquidneck Island in a big way. Nugent, now a prominent member of the Board of Directors at her organization, gave a tour of the deceptively tiny, multi-operational building on Broadway that houses her brainchild. She shared how her idea has materialized into a haven for women in need and what she has planned for 2009.
Q. What is Woman to Woman?
A. Woman to Woman is a nonprofit agency that provides help to pregnant women and their families. It’s been in operation since 1997. For the past 10 years we’ve been in Middletown; we moved to this unit [in Newport] last May. Our policy is to help any woman in a pregnancy crisis to have that baby, and to make good decisions for herself and that baby, whatever those are, and to help her to achieve that, whatever is necessary.
Q. Why do people come to Woman to Woman?
A. There’s about 50 women a month that come in and use our Baby Boutique, which is where we have all the baby clothes, diapers, and formula. People come for free pregnancy testing. Some of those women want abortions, some don’t; we’ve had a lot of success with helping women to not have abortions and to choose life. In November there were 12 women that came in wanting abortions that I know. Nine of them changed their minds after they came in here. We help with doctor referrals. There’s no charge for the women that come in here at all, ever.
Q. What are your future plans for the organization?
A. To continue to provide services for the women in this area and to help every woman that comes through the door to have her baby. To not be condemning of anybody. To be accepting of where they are and where they’re coming from.
Q. Are all of the emergency supplies donated?
A. It’s all donated stuff. A lot of groups or parishes will have baby showers, or people will bring diapers or formula or baby food, baby blankets or toys and things like that for us.
Q. What other services do you provide?
A. If somebody needs shelter, we try to find them shelter. If they need legal assistance, we have some lawyers we can refer them to. If they need medical help, we have a couple of doctors we work with who will take women who don’t have insurance. If they’re in an abusive situation we refer them to the Women’s Resource Center. If they need housing, we have a list of the different agencies. We pretty much do it all. Whatever somebody needs to help or have the baby, that’s what we try to do.
Q. Is there a point where you stop helping these women?
A. We don’t really stop, but our clothing sizes only go up to about 2 Toddler, and then because of the space, we don’t have bigger kids’ clothes here. They can continue to come back for advice and assistance and so on, but as far as the practical help goes, that would be that.
Q. What is your most memorable experience with Woman to Woman?
A. We had a yard sale one and Colette Rodrigues – she’s the director – was there. A woman came up to her with a little boy, and said, “I want to thank you!” Colette asked why, and she said, “You don’t remember me, but I came to you about four or five years ago because I wanted an abortion.” Colette had counseled her and spoken with her. “She said, ‘You gave me good advice, and now here is my child, and I just love him to pieces. I can’t imagine the world without him.’ So even if you just save one baby, it’s all worth it.