Providing personal counseling and referral services for pregnant women in the Monterey Park area, the newly dedicated East Los Angeles Pregnancy center has opened its doors last week with warm welcomes and a promise to serve.

"Our motto is that through education, these women can be empowered to make the right decisions for themselves and their unborn children," says Rossy Orozco, director of the center. "We are promoting human life from the moment of conception to its natural death."

Services at the center will include: free pregnancy tests, counseling, education on fetal development, facts about abortion procedures and chastity education. In addition, trained volunteers will also offer post abortion counseling as well as referrals for doctors, maternity homes and shelters, adoption services and Natural Family Planning.

The location of the center is an important one, explains Orozco, who says that the nearest similar center is in Durate, many miles away. "These women here near access to what we are providing. They are really surrounded by clinics that advocate contraceptives and abortions. We are here to counteract that environment."

The storefront center was obtained with the help of many hands, including Social Service Sister Paula Vandegaer and Msgr. John Moretta, pastor at Resurrection Church in East Los Angeles. "We've had many good friends get behind the cause," says Orozco. "The president of our board of directors, Daniel Mansueto, personally donated enough money to pay for our first four months of rent."

In addition, Msgr. Moretta organized a Baby Bottle fundraiser at his parish. Baby bottles were distributed to parishioners and told to use them as piggy banks for a month. "We received such kind donations," says Orozco. "We are very blessed."

Currently the center will be opened three days a week and will expand hours once more volunteers are trained. In addition, the center is accepting gently used baby and maternity clothes, baby furniture, cribs, strollers and high chairs.

"We are asking for volunteers of any abilities to help the cause," says Orozco. "Not just in personal counseling, but coming down and maybe helping fold baby clothes or hand out lists of community resources to women."

The center is located at 2343 Atlantic Blvd., in Monterey Park. Operating hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For more information and to learn about volunteering opportunities, call Orozco at (213) 382-2156 or (213) 388-4746.