When Shannon King met the founder of Pregnancy Choice, she knew she wanted to establish a centre in Palmerston North.
It took her two years, but Pregnancy Choice and its op shop Re:store opened in July, filling the long-vacant former home of Abode Interiors at 36 Broadway Ave.
King found herself unexpectedly pregnant when she was young, so when she met Janice Tetley-Jones in Auckland and learnt about the work of Pregnancy Choice she was eager to bring the service to Manawatū women.
As a pregnant single teen, King received support from her mother and they talked through the options. King decided to keep her son and she now has two grandsons. She believes in people being well informed before making a choice, and is motivated by the desire for people to have the information she was given.
Pregnancy Choice provides free and confidential information and support to women facing an unexpected pregnancy, including pregnancy tests. It offers a Living in Colour post-abortion healing programme.
Having the centre at the back of the shop provides a safe, more discreet entrance for people seeking support, King says.