The following comes from an April 21 Angelus article by Kevin Theriault:

It began in 1971 as a telephone helpline for pregnant women. Word spread and many callers began seeking face-to-face contact for help. With enough support from women willing to help counsel, eventually they decided to take the next step.

The Pregnancy Help Center opened the doors of their facility on Crenshaw Boulevard in Torrance in 1976. “We have been in this building in Torrance for 40 years. It started mainly as a crisis counseling center. It wasn’t a medical clinic,” said Norma Grove of the Pregnancy Help Center.

The facility became a licensed medical clinic in 1991 and hired a medical director, an OB-GYN. They expanded services, adding breastfeeding education, nutrition education and started doing STD/STI testing and treatment.

The addition of ultrasound in 2013 increased the client base by 80 percent, and it has remained steady ever since. “It has definitely helped us reach more women and have more positive results,” said Grove, stating that four out of five women who have an ultrasound choose life.

The majority of clients served are in in their 20s, single and earning less than $29,000 per year. Although walk-ins are welcome, women are encouraged to make an appointment.

To commemorate 40 years of service to the community, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on April 8. Local Assemblyman David Hadley (District 66) presented a resolution from the state of California, and the Torrance Chamber of Commerce and Torrance City Council presented commemorative plaques.