Care Net celebrates milestone with ‘Sweet 16 Gala’

Care Net’s “Sweet 16 Gala” on Saturday was to celebrate the 16th anniversary of the family help organization as well as to raise funds.

But there was also big news announced.

Care Net, which has locations in Lehighton and Nesquehoning, has acquired an ultrasound machine to use with pregnancies. The new device will be put into operation after staff is in place and trained for its operation.

The highlight of the program at the Mahoning Valley Country Club was the lighting of 16 candles surrounding a giant birthday cake. The candles were lit by 16 people representing Care Net staff members, people involved with Care Net, donors to the program and girls who have benefited from the nonprofit group.

Susan DeMara, director since the program was started in Carbon County, was in charge of evening.

Care Net of Carbon County is a community resource providing support to those facing pregnancy and encouraging healthy choices in sexuality, fertility and parenting.

Leading into the 16 Candle ceremony, Cheryl Deutsch, director’s assistant for Care Net, sang the song “16 Candles.”

Lighting the candles were Deutsch, Betty Lou McBride, Nicole Lynn, Natalie Cyphers, Barbara Sheriff, Connie Hoffman, Debbie Balch, Jill Tarr, Alyssa Cathers, Holly Guewara, Kay Oertner, the Rev. Jeff Stansbury of Bethel E.C. Church of Lehighton; Rachel Ruba, chairman of the board; Lois Hollopeter, board secretary; and Colette Bailey, board treasurer.

DeMara said although the group is celebrating its 16th anniversary, “It all began years before that.” She said McBride had a major role in starting the group when she moved to Carbon County in 1981.

Sheriff, representing the firm Trisonics and an ultrasound technician for 25 years, explained the importance of ultrasound not only in pregnancy care but also in convincing a pregnant female to not have an abortion.

She showed ultrasound video and photos and said by showing a pregnant girl her ultrasound, “You’re showing them that it’s not a blob of tissue. It’s a real life and it matters,” Sheriff said.

“With an ultrasound, you have the ability to look inside and show it’s a living thing,” she said, adding that it dispels the denial factor some women might possess.

Sheriff told the gathering that 80 percent of women opt to keep their unborn babies when they see the images from the ultrasound on a monitor.

Ruba said the organization depends on donations and is fiscally responsible. She said consultants have trained Care Net personnel so that the group could become a limited medical facility.

She said Care Net “is an opportunity to make a tangible and eternal difference.”

Stansbury offered the benediction.

Deutsch closed the program singing “Better Than a Hallelujah!”