The Northwest Center (NORTHWEST CENTER INC)

I've been involved with the Northwest Center for over two years, and I'm consistently amazed at the invaluable support they provide the local community. They put just as much love and focus into caring for and protecting babies and young children as it does the women who come for help. I have seen the positive impact of the material and emotional support first hand, and the career/educational support they also offer puts them on another level. I'm so glad the Northwest Center continues to serve the DC area, and can only hope it continues for many more years.

I've been involved with the NW Center for over twenty years and consistently find it to be a welcoming, supportive place with comprehensive service that is truly transformative. Every city should have a center like this!

I've been involved with the Northwest Center as a volunteer for a few years now. I continue to be amazed by the scope of the services the Center provides for their clients, even throughout the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Northwest Center's counseling, material assistance, and maternity home programs are far-reaching and transformative for clients and their children.

I have had an amazing experience volunteering at the NWC the past 2 months. I was welcomed with open arms, my supervisors made sure I was settled and comfortable learning the roles and responsibilities. They helped me learn about maternal care and how the center works, they shaped me to become the best volunteer so I can give the patients the best care possible. The Northwest Center provides genuine, compassionate care to all women, children, and families. The center and employees goes above and beyond to make sure clients are receiving proper and genuine counseling, support, referrals, safety, and clean donations. No matter a persons background, past or current situation, the NWC does not judge and will treat everyone with respect. Their biggest priority is making sure the client is healthy and safe. I have been blessed and grateful to work with these women and help with supporting the lives of women and children in need, it has been an honor to assist my co-workers and to help support clients and their families live safer, healthier, and happier lives. This is a happy, positive environment to be apart of. The NWC does amazing work to care for those in need, and keep the center running smoothly. The NWC is one of the best communities I have ever been apart of.

I had been looking for a pregnancy center to volunteer at and came across the Northwest Center in my local church paper. I quickly found out that many of my fellow friends, classmates, and professors have known and supported this organization for many years because of the amazing and direct work they do with the DC community. I have been a volunteer for several months and will continue to serve at this organization for a long time because of the incredible resources like medical care and housing that they provide for women and their children. I am so proud to be a part of the Northwest Center and all the hard work they do to protect and support lives! This is a truly remarkable place that deserves an abundance of recognition.

I started my internship at the Northwest center last summer as a public health student. I worked in the pregnancy center and the maternity home as well. I spoke to the clients who were mostly pregnant women or new mothers about Sudden infant death, prenatal care and other health related resources available to them to support them in their pregnancy or caring for their newborn. Both directors of the center and the home were very knowledgeable about the community served and diligently worked to include me in most meetings with their clients as they trained me to also run the appointments or trainings for the new mother.
I thoroughly enjoyed not only serving that community but mainly being able to follow up month after month with the clients on their babies development, how they coped with and handled postpartum.
As an ICU registered nurse, who works full time with very sick patients whose prognosis are not always the brightest, I was not only thrilled to be exposed to a patient population which we helped as they started their families but mainly I was impressed to witness how the Northwest center support and role in the community was appreciated, respected and very well spoken about. Their partnerships with agencies within the district expanded from the largest governmental agencies such as the centers for medicare and medicaid, the DC department of health to individual social worker within labor and delivery units at other hospitals. To me, no two days were similar even though one would think we had the same population to serve. I was delighted to undertake some appointments, learn their intake software, understand how each clients challenges were taken seriously and solved with great compassion. As a public health student with a nursing background, I was most grateful for the opportunity to experience a different frame of the healthcare system but also view the impact and importance of social services in the lives of low income and under served communities.
I am most thrilled because I truly believe that my work at the Northwest Center has definitely shaped me into a better nurse. I believe the work I have done has shaped me into a stronger resourceful advocate for my patients' successful return into the community after a hospital stay, as I educate their family members on how to reach out to further services that will contribute into the full recovery of their loved ones.

I have over ten years experience working with a wide range of nonprofits, including but not limited to pregnancy centers. I have done so in various capacities: sometimes as a volunteer, other times as a professional accountant or administrative assistant, and sometimes in ministry, working with the nonprofit to provide services to people in need.

My most recent involvement with a nonprofit was with the Northwest Center in Washington DC, and the experience was spectacular from beginning to end. I worked with them professionally to provide temporary bookkeeping support. In this capacity, I was privy to the inner workings of the Center, which was a unique honor as it was both positive and instructive for me professionally. I was impressed with the expertise of the staff, the cheerful and supportive work environment, the organization and precision with which the administrative details were handled behind the scenes, the fundraising activity, and the level of client care. Independently, each of these areas is a monumental task for a small nonprofit, but the Northwest Center excels in all of these areas, ultimately weaving them together to provide excellent service to the community.

In particular, the Northwest Center provides impressive personal care to their clients. The Executive Director not only provides for the temporal needs of the clients, like housing, diapers, cleaning supplies, and safety, but she also ensures that their emotional needs are addressed as well. A testament to its authenticity, her friendship with the women and children continues for years past their stay in the maternity home has come to an end. She routinely takes previous clients out for a meal, or to celebrate a child's birthday. Wrapped up into those visits is not only the essential encounter of friendship, but also that of accompaniment and mentoring through which the women receive the ongoing support and encouragement of a trusted advisor.

Much more than a mere social justice initiative, the Northwest Center really stands out by going over and above the expectation for any nonprofit organization. They run a smooth operation, with a stellar staff, devoted board of directors, and a brilliant business model. They do a phenomenal job of fundraising so that the women and children have ongoing, predictable financial support. They care for and counsel women and help them to find their way in the world, and ultimately do so independently. In full, the Northwest Center’s administrative expertise and Christocentric care allow them to serve women and children in the best, most efficient way possible.

I wholeheartedly encourage you to get to know the Northwest Center and to support their work!

Provides compassionate, individualized, holistic care for women and their babies to create bright futures for mom and little one:)

The Northwest Center not only has a wonderful mission, but it is the people who work there that truly set it apart. Everyone is exceptionally kind and compassionate and keep patients as their first priority. It is an honor to volunteer at the Northwest Center!

The Northwest Center staff members and volunteers truly care about the women and families they serve and accompany. I would recommend them to any woman needing support during or after their pregnancy.

The Northwest Center is a loving, peaceful place for DC parents and children to find rest and holistic support amidst the grueling demands and stressors they face.

I had the immense privilege of interning with Executive Director Susan Gallucci in 2016-2017. I can say with complete certainty that Susan and her Staff serve every single parent and child that finds The Northwest Center with compassion, unwavering respect, and warmth so often lost and lacking in our world.

Susan remains a role model and dear friend of mine to this day, long after her commitment to supervise me as a budding Social Worker ended. That is who Susan is. And that is the beautifully high standard she sets for relationships among NWC Staff, Clients, Board Members, and supporters alike.

And it is with great joy and deep trust that - 5+ years later - I keep referring Clients to The Northwest Center, excited for each one to experience what The Northwest Center offers in excellent housing, options counseling, continuing support, parenting classes, and more.

Every person served by The Northwest Center is loved, unique, and unrepeatable. And that is evident in every detail of what The Northwest Center Staff does to continue the organization's strong legacy. My sincere hope is that The Northwest Center will forever have a home not just in the hearts of thousands but in the heart of our nation's capitol, where it is needed more than ever.

The NW Center helps provide housing, diapers, and formulas to mom's in need. The staff is loving and always willing to help. If you are pregnant and uncertain, I highly recommend seeking assistance here.

The strength of The Northwest Center (NWC) rests in its relationships. Through its Pregnancy Center, NWC not only provides material assistance to pregnant and parenting women in need, but also serves as an emotional support, accompanying women at every stage of their pregnancy, through birth, and for up to two and a half years postpartum. NWC staff engages its clients holistically toward a goal of self-sufficiency, connecting them with housing, opportunities for education and employment, and medical care. Through its Maternity Home, pregnant women are provided a comfortable home for 18 months as they move through pregnancy toward childbirth and following the birth of their child. Because NWC’s Maternity Home is the only one of its kind in the District of Columbia, it serves a critical need for women who are pregnant and homeless or on the brink of homelessness. NWC staff shows a deep care and concern for its clients, manifested in the relationships that have lasted at times for up to 6 years after the client has left its maternity home. Despite its relatively small staff, including only three full-time employees, NWC has sustained its existence over nearly four decades, including weathering multiple recessions, and has provided services for over 57,300 women and their children.

I've volunteered for this organization before, and I love love the work they do for woman and babies! They provide a large contribution to creating a culture of life by providing women with options when they are in difficult situations and empowering them to choose life.

I attended the Northwest Center's Harvest Ball a couple of years ago due to a dear friend who worked at the Center and invited me. Up to that point I have heard great stories about the Center and its work. Thank you for the work you do for women, babies, and families et large in the Washington, DC community. It would be ideal for every city to have a Center like yours, and for the Northwest Center to be able to say 'Yes' to every woman who comes through its doors. Thank you and keep up the great work!

When I moved to the DC area, I learned about the great work of the Northwest Center because a newly made friend was a volunteer there. My friend invited me to their annual gala fundraiser and I was floored by the stories mother's told of the support they received when they were at their most vulnerable. Almost five years later, that volunteering friend is my husband and we donate our children's unused/gently outgrown items to the center frequently! I am so happy that the Northwest Center exists to help area families in need.

The Northwest Center is a special place. Having volunteered there for a few months now, I’ve seen firsthand the love and support that women receive when they walk in the door. The heart that management and other volunteers have to serve women, by meeting both their physical and emotional needs, is encouraging. In a time that can be so confusing, trying, and scary for an expecting or new mother - the Northwest center provides counsel, consistency, and support that these new moms desperately need.

Tucked away in Adams- Morgan expectant mothers (with planned or unplanned pregnancies) can find The Northwest Center which is a wonderful nonprofit. The women who work there are committed, professional, and provide a non-judgmental space for all clients. The staff speaks English and Spanish; they offer pre- natal supplies, baby and maternity clothes, (non faith based) counseling before, during, and after pregnancy, as well as many other resources. There is also a center upstairs that can house women and their children, which shows that the org doesn't solely care that moms carry their babies to term. They genuinely love both the mother and person she is carrying. If you are considering reaching out to The Northwest Center for any reason at all, you are sure to be greeted with dignity and respect.

The Northwest Center is a wonderful nonprofit. With my limited giving capacity, I was looking for a nonprofit to whom I could focus my giving as well as volunteer efforts. When I reached out to Susan, their director, she was very transparent and candid about the operations of the nonprofit and their approach to helping families. I love that the Northwest Center does not only focus on supporting women who face unexpected or difficult pregnancies, they work with individuals and empower them by providing financial resources, job training, and other valuable assets to people who need them. All of my volunteer time has been spent in their home for women who are pregnant or who have babies. The home provides a loving space for women and their children. I always loved the time that I spent with the staff, volunteers, and residents at the home.

This is a nonprofit that is worthy of both your time and treasure!

The Northwest Center is an incredible organization run by competent, caring, and well-connected women who go above and beyond to meet the needs of women and children in the DC area in a holistic manner that appreciates every aspect of human life. Cannot recommend enough!

The NW Center is a non-profit organization that has provided countless resources for the women and children of DC. The women who work at this center work ceaselessly to provide as much assistance to people in need in the form of housing, clothing, and therapeutic counseling. It is without reservations that I give the NW center 5 stars and hope that it continues to get more funding so that more women can receive help.

I've supported the NWC for over 20 years. The stories are always inspiring and the amount of work conducted by the skelton staff and many caring volunteers is outstanding.

I'd ask that people consider making this your primary charity if you care about the unborn and the families that are created from saving them!

The Northwest Center is THE pregnancy center and maternity home for mothers in need! I've seen them in action as a volunteer over the past 3+ years. Most of all, I am amazed by the personal care that each staff member shows to clients. They are warm, patient, kind-hearted people who put their clients first and foremost.

The Northwest Center is an amazing organization where mothers and their children can find a home away from home. Having formerly served as their Jesuit Volunteer and Maternity Home resident assistant, I have gotten to witness firsthand how devoted the staff members are to the families they serve. From babysitting to helping out with supplying wipes and diapers, The Northwest Center is there when a family needs them. They are committed to serving all families in the D.C. area and provide services in Spanish, English and Amharic. I am so thankful that an organization like The NWC is in my community and ready to respond to families in need of a helping hand.

I was The Northwest Center's Pregnancy Program Assistant and Jesuit Volunteer for a year, working full time at the Pregnancy Center and Maternity Home. I could not have hoped to serve during my time in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps at a more warm and welcoming place. Women and families from all walks of life are cared for with love and respect at the center, and the dignity of all life is acknowledged. Bilingual staff members and volunteers help support women in their native language. The social workers at The Northwest Center are very knowledgeable professionals and are well versed in social services to refer clients to in the greater DC area.

Diaper need is a huge public health problem. The center actively works to alleviate some of the stress of diaper need for local families by providing families with diapers and other essential baby items such as clothing, blankets, and formula. Not only does the center provide material items for families, but also emotional support. Confidential monthly counseling is provided not only during the pregnancy, but for the next two and a half years to help provide stability and support for mothers.

The Northwest Center will always hold a special place in my heart. I plan to support The Northwest Center for years to come with my donations because I whole heartedly believe in the mission of this non-profit. I know I will always have a place to call home in DC at The Northwest Center. I would encourage anyone thinking of scheduling an appointment, donating, volunteering, stopping by, or referring clients to do so.

The Northwest Center provides excellent assistance to pregnant women, young mothers, and their children who need a helping hand in various difficult situations. I currently volunteer with the Center and have seen firsthand the great quality and scope of their mission. The staff is very kind and well-prepared. The work of the Center addresses a great need in DC, serving many women facing difficult circumstances in their pregnancy and early motherhood. Caring for mothers and their children, the Center testifies to the invaluable dignity of human persons at every stage in life. For this, the Center merits commendation and support.

I have over 20 years experience working with federal, state and non-profit programs that help pregnant & parenting teens as well as promoting maternal and child health. The Northwest Center gets the highest marks from me as an organization that makes a lasting difference in the lives of the teens, young women, and struggling families they serve. They don't just set goals as an organization. They help the women and families meet their needs, solve the crises they face, and improve their health and well-being. They have an outstanding track record of young single mothers achieving self-sufficiency. The staff & volunteers are caring yet professional. This organization with a pregnancy center and long-term transitional housing component is a program well worth supporting and replicating. Michelle Brott O'Connell, BSN, Public Health Nurse Consultant

The NW Center is a place of caring support. The staff is attentive and kind and will support a woman and her family in every aspect of their lives. Not only do they offer material assistance of diapers, baby clothing and other useful items, but they also offer referrals for job placement, food assistance, monetary assistance, and much more! Their staff and volunteers will also look into the general well-being of each woman they see. They will ask them about their goals and plans for themselves and their children. If you are looking for help, please know that this is a great place to turn to for information on your pregnancy and resources, as well as for material and emotional support!

I'm a volunteer for the Northwest Center and believe they are doing a great job assisting pregnant women in need.
I feel, if I was in their situation, I would like for someone to assist me, in preparing to raising a healthy baby.
Not every female is fortunate enough to have support from family and friends.
Some parents may kick them out, while others have boyfriends/partners leave them.
Everyone makes mistakes, no one is perfect.
Preparing to bring a baby in the world can be scary, but it can also, be a beautiful experience.
The Northwest Center is a place where the staff and volunteers assist the women by providing clothing, toiletries, food, etc.
If you know someone who might be expecting and not sure where to go, this is the place to be.
The Northwest Center is an organization you can definitely depend on.

The Northwest Center is an amazing resource for women and their families. The Northwest Center offers material assistance, free pregnancy testing and counseling, community referrals, emotional support and much more! The staff is incredibly welcoming, compassionate and helpful to anyone and everyone that is seeking assistance. I would definitely recommend The Northwest Center to a friend.

I've volunteered here and have seen how this organization is entirely committed to helping women and their children in a non-judgmental way. They provide services and support to pregnant women/recent mothers & children in challenging financial situations. I've talked to women who have received support and they're thankful for the help they've received, and often feel they might not have been able to support themselves and their families without the support they've received from the Northwest center. The center supports both their immediate needs and tries to help get them on a path toward self-sustainability.

I have been volunteering at the Northwest Center for about a year and a half, and can 100% speak to the care and compassion that the staff has for all of the women that come through its doors. This is a loving and warm pregnancy center that is committed to walking through the pregnancy process with women, and to providing them with the long-term and holistic care that they need.

The Northwest Center is a warm and welcoming place that provides material assistance, pregnancy testing, referrals and support services to women of all backgrounds, free of charge. The women who work there are very welcoming and help you to feel at ease and supported during your pregnancy or when you are parenting. I always felt safe and welcomed when I visited. When meeting with staff, women are supported in their decisions and empowered to talk with their doctors and additional support services (i.e. counselors, etc.) With services in English, Spanish and Amharic, The Northwest Center is able to provide assistance to women of all backgrounds and help women feel at ease. The Northwest Center makes a difference in the lives of families in our area every day.

El Centro Noroeste es un lugar cálido y acogedor que proporciona asistencia material, pruebas de embarazo, remisiones y servicios de apoyo a mujeres de todos los orígenes, de forma gratuita. Las mujeres que trabajan allí son muy acogedoras y te ayudan a sentirse a gusto y apoyado durante tu embarazo o cuando eres padre. Siempre me sentí seguro y bienvenida cuando visité. Cuando se reúne con el personal, las mujeres son apoyadas en sus decisiones y están facultadas para hablar con sus médicos y servicios de apoyo adicionales (por ejemplo, consejeros, etc.). Con servicios en inglés, español y amárico, The Northwest Center puede proporcionar asistencia a mujeres de todos Ayudar a las mujeres a sentirse a gusto. El Centro del Noroeste marca una diferencia en la vida de las familias de nuestra área todos los días.

I have been volunteering at Northwest Center in Washington DC for the last year. I have been so impressed with how they carry out their mission to serve women who are pregnant and in need of resources. They are accessible, professional and client focused. They operation as good stewards of donations and funding.

I became a Board Member because of my experience as a volunteer. The Center serves women and children in challenging circumstances with compassion, experience, expertise, efficiency, and respect for both mother and child. The Center does all this as one of the most cost-effective organizations in the Washington DC area.

Having attended several events for The Northwest Center I have heard from the people that they serve the great good they are doing in the lives that they touch. For those who have not been able to attend one of those events let me assure you that your donations produce incredibly beautiful results!

It is evident that the staff at Northwest Center are excellent stewards of the organizations' resources as they properly utilize every bit of space, materials, funding and volunteers to help so many. I've enjoyed witnessing their approach with the client which is one of genuine care and concern. You can see the difference that Northwest is making in the lives of young women and their children. I am grateful that this organization operates in my community, and feel confident in recommending Northwest to donors, volunteers or those in need of their services.

I've been a volunteer at the Northwest Center for two months, and I could not be more thrilled to be here. The work the center does is truly incredible - working with mothers, fathers and children to accomplish the goals they desire and providing monthly material assistance to help ease the financial burden of having a child. Before I started working here, I had no idea how much money items like diapers, formula, wipes, breast pumps, strollers, etc. cost. Helping families with these items while encouraging growth and independence is so important and makes a tangible difference in the lives of many.

I've been involved with the Northwest Center for two years as a volunteer and donor. If I had to pick three words to describe the center, I'd say important, kind, and trustworthy.

The Northwest Center is important because there are few places in DC where moms with unplanned pregnancies can find encouragement and resources to help them continue their pregnancies and either keep their babies or give someone else the joy of adopting their babies. The Northwest Center saves the lives of these babies and also the lives of these moms by supplying encouragement and practical help.

I chose the word kind because Susan and Jenny are precisely the people you'd want to talk to if you were scared and didn't know what to do. When you talk to Susan or Jenny, you feel you must be important because of the way they're listening. At the same time, I know that Susan and Jenny, when working with clients, are not enablers and that is something I think is important in a charity. They provide material assistance, but the goal is always independence.

Lastly, the Northwest Center is trustworthy. If you give money to the Northwest Center, you can rest assured that it will not be used to build a fancy headquarters building on a prime piece of real estate downtown. It will not be used to fly the directors in a helicopter over the depressed neighborhoods of DC so they can make grim faces and ask for more money on television. The Northwest Center operates on a humble budget and with the help of volunteers.

I've been both a volunteer and a donor as a Georgetown student these past few years, and the incredible work done by the Northwest Center is exactly the passion and care for the health of women and their children that is needed to make all of our pro-life advocacy into an actual culture of life. Those that want to make a meaningful impact on the lives of women in need should look no father than the Northwest Center.

I volunteered with the Northwest Center while I resided in DC and those that serve within the organization are truly genuine individuals that go out of their way to help women and families. I was impressed when I first volunteered that they not only provide confidential counseling and give baby essentials through donors but they also have volunteers to aide in career counseling to enable new mothers and fathers to provide for their families. It is a privilege to donate to an organization like this and know that it saves lives of the innocent by the dedicated staff and volunteers willing to welcome and support those who need it.

I've donated to The Northwest Center for the last 3 years. I feel confident supporting them because I know what a valuable resource the Northwest center is to women in the local DC community.

The Northwest Center does incredible work for incredibly needy women and families. As a volunteer for 4 years I'm proud to be associated with the center.

I've volunteered with the Northwest Center and later became a donor when I moved away from D.C. After volunteering at the Northwest Center, I have a better appreciation of the value of a dollar & how to turn pocket change into a meal for 10! There are so many ways to help the Nw center, I've helped collect donated baby supplies on Saturday mornings to baking cookies for their childrens' Holiday party to registering guests at their annual black tie fundraising gala. The ladies who run this center are not only inspirational, but the women who they serve are some of the most inspiring women you will ever meet.

I really don't have much of a story but our family has participated w/ the Northwest Center on several occasions in terms of participating in their events such as fun runs/walks. My husband and I have attended their balls. We support Northwest because they are a pregnancy aid center and help young mothers keep their babies, learn job skills and lead productive lives while raising their children. What could be more important? As a mother myself of 4 children I know how challenging it can be to raise children in this day and age. I have a supportive husband and there are still trials and difficulties families face. Having to do it as a single parent is way harder! All the events that we have attended are well organized, fun, meaningful and well supported. We intend to continue to contribute to this nonprofit.

The Northwest Center directly has a dedicated team and community that works to help pregnant mothers in need of support. Their work is inspiring! As a donor, I know that my contribution goes directly to helping mothers and their children. The staff is hardworking very hardworking, and very prudent stewards of the donations they receive.

I have been involved with this organization for many years and am happy to donate to such a worthy organization. I know that the funds I donate are going to a worthwhile purpose and that they are used wisely. The dedication and hard work of the staff make the Northwest Center a blessing to mothers and children in need in the Washington DC metro area.

I found out about the Northwest Center through a relative and I am so impressed with the entire, comprehensive program which the Center follows. All of the clients are required to participate in programs which will build their character, improve their skills, and teach them to be independent and not rely on government handouts. It is such a joy for me to provide the resources to save babies and change so many lives. I have met many of the residents and volunteers and am struck by the love the staff and residents have for each other. They operate more like a family then an organization and I consider it a privelege to be part of their family.

I have been familiar with the work of the Northwest Center since relocating to the Washington, DC area in 2000. Year after year, I was impressed with their efforts to aid women in crisis pregnancies through their fundraising events such as the Indian Summer Ball and their July Sky's the Limit event and their walkathon. I knew they did a lot of good in the communitiy, but it wasn't until this past year when I joined the Board that I realized how much they do with such a modest amount of money. I've been involved with a number of charities and Boards over the year and this one really understands stewardship and how to stretch a dollar. They do so much good with so relatively little. I'm very proud to be affiliated with the Northwest Center.

As a full-time volunteer at the Northwest Center through the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, I had significant opportunities to observe the work of the staff and volunteers and the relationships they had with the clients of the Northwest Center. Not only does the NWC offer counseling, housing and material assistance services to its clients, it is also a comforting place for women and families in need to come to discuss their concerns and plan for their family's future. Some of the most rewarding experiences that I had as a volunteer were when clients came in just to talk about what was going on in their lives and share their experiences with me. It can be very difficult to be a parent trying to raise children on limited resources, especially so for single parents. The Northwest Center makes these challenges more tolerable by offering a supportive, caring environment for women and families to make important life decisions for themselves and their families.

I have been volunteering for the Northwest Pregnancy Center for over two years. I have been impressed with their leadership's humility, care, and hard work during that time, and hope to continue serving with them for many years to come!

The Northwest Center provides life-affirming solutions to women and men in need of practical advice and resources in the face of an unplanned pregnancy. It is run by compassionate and dedicated staff and volunteers who care about the strength and long-term future of the entire family, both children and their parents. It is a truly inspiring organization.

In February 1996 The Northwest Center Maternity Home opened it's doors to it's first resident. I was employed there part time as House Mom. Two months later the second and third resident moved in and it became one big happy home. The rest is History. I enjoyed assisting the moms with cooking, cleaning and especially helping with the babies. In 1997 I became Resident Manager and worked full time. Later in March 2000 I was promoted to Maternity Home Manager. I love that place. The Maternity Home is truly a Safe Haven for the women and children it house. The Staff, Volumteers and The Board of Directors are such caring, giving and reliable individuals. They all work hand in hand to assist the women with the goals they set for themselves to enable them to become Self-Sufficient. I have personally witnessed some of the women Graduate from College, obtain their HS Diploma or GED, complete Trade School, Job Training and get decent jobs enabling them to move into their own apartments. I feel blessed to have played a small part of their transitioning and proud to have served as a Staff Member of The Northwest Center for 10 yrs. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK YOU ALL DO AT THE NORTHWEST CENTER. MY PRAYER IS THAT THE CENTER RECEIVES AN ABUNDANCE THAT WILL ENABLE THEM TO EXPAND SO THEY CAN DO MORE FOR MORE. GOD BLESS YOU, NWC.

I have worked with the Northwest Center over the past 10 years and have been very impressed with the compassion that everyone has for their clients. They work with the "whole" issue that the client is confronting not just the immediate concern of the pregnancy. They help with housing, doctor's appt., parenting classes, obtaining GEDs and many other roadblocks that woman facing a crisis pregnancy face.

The Northwest Center simply provides compassionate and helpful services to women, children, and families. As a former staff member, I have no hesitation in continuing to donate to this unique organization. The sincerity and motivation of the volunteers, staff, and Board members are commendable; and the real, life-changing help provided to clients is invaluable. Great organization!

There are not enough words I can say to describe how powerful and life-changing The Northwest Center is. I have served as a volunteer for almost 5 years, and it is such a pleasure to know that I can contribute to such a great organization. The Northwest Center is truly pro-child, pro-woman, pro-family. It provides women the tools they need to be strong women and empowered mothers - lasting strengths that will stay with them long after their experience at The Northwest Center is done. The Northwest Center meets women where they are, and ensures that needs are met, especially the most basic. The staff and volunteers are so devoted to the individuals that come through The Northwest Center's doors, and I believe that the people who utilize their services feel and know that - and that makes such a difference. I continue to volunteer there, and I plan on having a relationship with The Northwest Center for many, many years.

I have been involved with The Northwest Center for 9 years, 5 as a staff member followed by 4 (to the present) as a Board Member. I can not say enough good things about NWC. As a clinical social worker, I am very aware of the Social Service needs in DC and can clearly see that The Northwest Center's Maternity Home and Pregnancy Center Program fills a much needed void in Washington DC. The Center's staff and volunteers, are exceptionally dedicated, compassion, hardworking and professional. They treat each family that walks though our doors with the utmost dignity and respect. NWC staff remain true to it's mission; "The Northwest Center seeks to promote the dignity of women and a respect for all human life. We seek to accomplish this goal by offering the loving support and comprehensive aid necessary to enable all women to continue their pregnancies, deliver healthy babies, and adequately care for themselves and their children." The Northwest Center and my involvement in it's mission and services have truly changed my life and that of many of my family and friends.

As a past Jesuit Volunteer my job placement was with the Northwest Center, since which time I have held jobs in the social work field and education fields. My experience with the Northwest center set a high standard for person to person care and showed me what is what like to work for an organization that leads with compassion and doesn't compromise quality of care. The center provides onsite care with a warm environment for both women and children. I highly recommend the Northwest Center as a place to receive assistance and/or volunteer to help with if you have the time.

I cannot say enough positive things about the Northwest Center. My relationship with the center began when I was in college, approximately fifteen years ago, when I became a volunteer. The people I volunteered with and those whom I got to know on the board have been some of the most exceptional people I have ever known. Everyone affiliated with the Northwest Center approaches their service to the community with great compassion, empathy, heart, HUMOR, and in the spirit of doing whatever they can, whenever they can to help whoever is in need. The Northwest Center provides tangible things like diapers, clothing, and pregnancy tests at absolutely no charge to anyone who is in need. When a man, woman, or family comes through the door asking for help, not only are they offered physical goods but they are also offered a listening ear and helpful, practical information if they wish to listen. Again, I cannot say enough good things about this organization, everyone involved, and everything it stands for.

I have been associated with this organization since I was a volunteer in college, nearly 20 years ago. I was an employee for 2 years and now serve on the board of directors. This is one of the most committed organizations to women and children in the Washington DC area. The Northwest Center meets families where they are and works to help them find services and resources they need to improve their lives. This organization is amazing because they are able to do so much good with such few resources. Any time, money or goods donated to this organizations is always used to the fullest potential. Rest assured the folks at the Northwest Center are good stewards of all donations. Nothing is wasted. Clients of the Northwest Center receive top notch services for no cost. All services are FREE to clients and always have been. This place changes lives one at a time. It is not about quantity, rather quality with this organization.

While a resident at the Northwest Center, I was able to continue my college studies, while provide a safe upbringing for my son. We came into the home when my son was just six weeks old and we left when he was about 14 months old, two months after I graduated college and was leaving for my first corporate job. The NWC helped make sure I was prepared with a safe place to live, great daycare, easily accessible public transportation, it aligned me with professional and career mentors from Georgetown University, helped me learn the importance of being very disciplined with healthy eating and cooking habits, while also making sure that I used every resource that was available to me. The NWC linked me up with scholarships, stipends and any other resource that could give me any kind of competitive edge towards succeeding against the odds. I thank God that I was able to get into that program and I don't even want to imagine if it did not exist for me and my son. This is an incredible place and home for women and children who are in a stage of transition and need additional help and guidance through life's adversities from making poor life choices. The Northwest Center gives a woman hope and helps her feel like there is a new day coming.

I am a single father and when my son was a week old I found myself in a situation I never imagined being in. I developed several mental health disorders, had lost my job, and my son's mother left him in my care. With no family to ask for help, I was referred to the Northwest Center by some friends who told me I could get free diapers there. What my son and I received ended up being far more significant and life-changing. The friendship and compassion the center offered us helped me so much during this difficult time. They helped me navigate my way through the complicated social service system. I had no income and they were able to provide my son with books, toys, clothing, a playpen, diapers...there was even food there, and chairs and shelves for his things at home. They provided me with instructional videos and pamphlets, parenting and safety class information and were able to answer any questions I had about parenting or anything I needed from the city. The staff at the center were always there to just talk and share in my enjoyment during each milestone in our lives. Today, our situation has greatly improved and I can honestly say that we wouldn't be where we are today had it not been for the Northwest Center. I think for the rest of my life, even when my son is grown up, I'll always remember the difficulties that we overcame the first few years of his life and those who helped us. I'll remember that I looked for help in virtually every available place in DC...churches, unemployment services, fatherhood organizations/websites, other centers claiming to offer what the Northwest Center does, disability services, food banks, diaper banks and clothing drives, DC Council-members, Latino organizations, even the Mayor's office. Nobody provided what they claimed to offer except the Northwest Center. Anybody affiliated with government services just went through the motions and provided the bare minimum of what they legally had to...but the Northwest Center genuinely cared about us and I think that's what made the biggest difference. I'm forever grateful to them for all they've done for us and we still visit them often to say hi and now we donate our things for their other clients in need.

I had the opportunity to intern at the Northwest Center the summer of 2012. Before going into it, I really had no idea what to expect, but even after my first day I already got more than I ever anticipated. In the pregnancy center, a first-time client had come in and she was in need of material assistance. I sat-in with the pregnancy center director as the in-take was conducted. The woman was 8-months pregnant and had no spousal or family support for her unborn baby. When asked if she needed a crib, in addition to the other donated baby items we would be giving her (diapers, wipes, bottles, pacifiers, clothes, blankets), she said yes. We told her she would be able to get a Pack-N-Play crib that day after watching a brief crib safety video, and she was moved to tears. She said before that moment, she did not know where her baby was going to sleep and she was so grateful for the center and all the help she was receiving. That's when I realized the impact the Northwest Center was having on women's lives. That's when I realized it was a good place for me to be. I had a very hard time leaving the center on my last day, and I still volunteer when I can. I tell people how much I loved my internship incessantly and I would recommend the Northwest Center to any mother looking for assistance.

The Northwest Center is extremely helpful in so many ways, as a former resident it is a great place to learn and grow as a responsible adult with exceptional guidance. Susan, the Director of the center is awesome and really takes the time to listen and help in anyway she can, for me personally Susan was there at various court sessions, wrote recommendation for scholarships, helped furnished my apartment when I moved out and most importantly I can still call her at a time of need! I cannot express further how wonderful the program is and I am so grateful to have found a non-profit organization like the Northwest Center! Thanks Again!

I spent the past year serving in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC). JVC provides the platform for men and women to work full-time for peace and justice, while living by the four core values of community, spirituality, simple living, and social justice. My JVC work placement was the Northwest Center. I worked as a Program Assistant, primarily in the Pregnancy Center but helping out upstairs in the Maternity Home as needed. When I began working at the Northwest Center, I hoped to advance the pro-life movement by helping women facing crises pregnancies by providing them with support, knowledge, and most of all, compassion. What I did not expect was the magnitude in which the women I met would impact my own life. Every client that walked through the door of the Northwest Center, in some way, shed light on the sacredness of life. I am so fortunate for my time at the Northwest Center, and I would strongly encourage others to volunteer at the Center.

I'm here at The Northwest Center for more than 2 years and I enjoy helping latin women, giving counsil and orientation about different topics. Health for her and her baby is a priority and we educate the women about fetal development and prenatal health. Emotional health is very important other wise we try to contact with centers that work with this aspect. More times we see families struggling for financial situation and we try to do orientation about jobs and employment, and places were they can find cheaper things. All the time we encourage them to study, begining with ESL, GED and sometimes with orientation in carriers and where to do it. I'm from Colombia so my first language is Spanish and for me it is great to share my skills and knowledge at The Northwest Center.