How We're Helping Our Community Right Now
Dear friends,
It has been a hard month. The deaths of Amber Thurman and Candi Miller put names to our deepest fears—that abortion bans not only restrict freedoms but destroy lives. One devastating hurricane ran through western North Carolina and beyond, and another one is barreling down on the west coast of Florida. And also—there's less than one month to go before the Presidential election. The stakes are high, yes, but they've always high for the work that we do. We know that no matter how it goes on that Tuesday in November, the abortion access crisis won't be over.
Case in point: the erosion in funding for our movement has hit later abortion providers especially hard. That's why our friends at the Midwest Access Coalition and Patient Forward have launched a join initiative to facilitate the distribution of block grants to high-volume abortion clinics that offer later abortion care. Donate today to support access to all-trimester abortion care.
Let's keep up the good work, everyone! And while you're at it, grab yourself a pumpkin spice latte and take a moment to appreciate all that we've already done. See you in November 😱!
In solidarity,
Marisa Falcon
Executive Director
How We're Helping Our Community These Days 🤝
Training New Practical Support Volunteers
There's still time to train to become a practical support volunteer through our Pollination Station! This three-part series covers the fundamentals of practical support within the current abortion access landscape. Upon completion, participants are then connected with their local practical support organization (PSO), allowing them to seamlessly integrate into becoming an effective volunteer. Apply here.
Creating New Volunteer Driving Programs
Our unique Blueprint cohort, a five-month intensive for PSOs, is wrapping up this month! Eleven organizations across nine states are dreaming, building, and sharing to develop new volunteer driving programs for abortion seekers. We're so proud of each of them and our team who made this project a reality. Participating groups that complete the program are eligible for up to $20,000 from Apiary to help implement their new program! If you'd like to support our regranting efforts and help PSOs with their new driving programs, you can donate here.
Honoring IPV Awareness Month
October is Interpersonal Violence (IPV) Awareness Month, and we're hosting a call about how to support abortion seekers in violent and/or dangerous situations that could risk their wellbeing. In a secure community call, our friends at the Mississippi Reproductive Freedom Fund and the Virginia Anti-Violence Project will discuss best practices for clients and supporters alike to navigate this difficult terrain.
Partner Spotlight: Florida's Abortion Billboard Campaign 🌴
Abortion funds and PSOs are the backbone of abortion access. This month, our friends at the Florida Access Network (FAN) are taking their work to a whole new level as they spread an unapologetic message to Floridians: together, we can build communities where abortion access is a reality!
We are proud to uplift FAN's visibility campaign, which includes eight pro-abortion rights billboards throughout the state, and show our solidarity as their boldly take up space across the hostile legislative landscape of Florida.