A local Christian based organization that offers free pregnancy tests, abstinence education and ultrasounds for women with unplanned pregnancies is looking for new volunteers.

Sav-A-Life Pregnancy Support Services currently has eight volunteers but needs 12, said Executive Director Bonita Wynn. The center is asking volunteers to commit four hours a day for one year, Wynn said. Some of the center’s volunteers have left due to illness or family obligations, Wynn said.

New volunteers would be responsible for managing the reception desk during the center’s operating hours, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5, Wynn said.

Volunteers would also be trained for coaching or counseling, Wynn said. The center’s volunteers are not professional counselors, Wynn said.

“They’re more like a peer counselor, where the young ladies, if they need to talk, they have someone to vent with during pregnancy, because we know that pregnancy can be hard for some women,” Wynn said. “We’re just there to be a sounding board for them. We’re there to listen to them.”

The center is a Care Net affiliate and provides volunteers with a two-day, all day session provided by Care Net called compassion, hope and health training, Wynn said.

Volunteers trained to provide counseling run the “Earn while You Learn” program offered by the center, Wynn said. The program is a series of videos related to pregnancy and childbirth that addresses topics like listening to a baby’s cries, understanding what’s happening during pregnancy and post-partum care, Wynn said.

Watching the videos earns pregnant women points, which they can redeem for diapers, baby wipes or a crib, Wynn said. Volunteers discuss the videos with pregnant women after they watch them, Wynn said.

The Biblically based ministry attempts to make abortions unnecessary and undesirable in the region, Wynn said. The center also tries to show compassion and provide for pregnant women’s physical, spiritual and emotional needs, Wynn said. Volunteers would also help women connect to resources like WIC and the Medicaid office, Wynn said. Last year the center had 434 client visits, Wynn said. Potential volunteers have to fill out an application at the center, Wynn said.