Patients come to Choices Women’s Medical Center from all over New York State, many other states, and from other countries. We are well known for our comprehensive gynecological services, our prenatal and birthing care, and for sensitive and confidential abortion services.
Donations to Choices’ Patient Assistance will help protect and support everyone who needs our services.
Fortunately, New York State has no restrictive abortion laws or age requirements as many other states do, as well as other countries. All of this means Choices is a sought-after location for women of all ages and nationalities for reproductive health care, including abortion services to 24 weeks. And all require funds beyond the actual medical procedures.
These requirements include transportation from the patient’s home to NYC as well as reservations and transportation to a hotel or private home for an overnight stay as needed. Choices has a team of out-of-town experts who assist patients, but funds for all these services are greatly needed.
In addition, on appointment day, generally Saturdays, individual volunteer clinic escorts awaken in the early morning and travel from diverse NYC neighborhoods to Jamaica, Queens, where Choices is located, to greet patients and shield them from protesters. The anti-abortion fanatics try to discourage patients from approaching and entering the clinic which opens from a public sidewalk. The escorts, trained by experienced leaders who have assisted patients for many years, provide a welcoming and supportive presence, without which patients would be subjected to a gauntlet of large, disgusting signs and protesters who scream hateful comments at them. (There is nothing we can do about the screaming but the escorts’ physical presence and kind words let our patients know they are supported and will be well cared for.)
Our escorts are committed volunteers, but transportation – by car service or train from their homes to Choices – is costly, and early morning refreshments and coffee need to be provided. Your donations can help express appreciation for what they do. They also need hand and foot warmers for the cold winter months when they spend frigid mornings on the sidewalk.
