The former Open Arms building in Mexico is officially for sale. Columbia and area affiliates of the local pregnancy resource agency last Thursday emptied the building of its contents – with the exception of two rooms – and then posted a "for sale" sign in the front window. Area donors were reportedly notified prior to the move-out date.
The decision to sell the building followed several months of conversations concerning the future of the building, and the possibility of another local non-profit agency taking over the building and continuing the services. These conversations were held between several area concerned citizens and the Life Network of Central Missouri – which is a Columbia-based organization, formerly known as Open Arms, that once was the main supporter of satellite pregnancy resource centers in Mexico and four other communities.
The Mexico Open Arms facility was officially closed on March 31, pending possible sale, and sites in Fulton, Jefferson City and Moberly were closed on July 2. The Columbia site is the only agency that remains open.
On Tuesday, Life Network Executive Director Charity Quinn said the closure of Mexico's Open Arms was due to continued funding deficits, and immediate because the clinic was creating a large financial burden on the overall organization and showing no signs of improvement, or achieving the agency's mission. According to Quinn, the clinic's average monthly deficit stayed constant at $975 per month.
"Our financial condition is very serious, and we are taking it very serious not to live in debt, and be responsible for the funding that is provided," Quinn told The Ledger. "I personally hope that the Mexico donors know that we certainly care about women in their area, but we are looking at all of central Missouri and believe that it’s not cost efficient to run five different clinics in five different areas, if we can centralize and strengthen the clinic in Columbia."
According to Quinn, the total amount of income from the Mexico community from December 2007 when it started, to the time of closure was approximately $26,500, whereas the operating expenses of the clinic were approximately $43,100 – a deficit of $16,600 that she said Life Network donors from other areas of the Central Missouri region covered throughout the 17 months Mexico was open.
By consolidating, Quinn said Life Network can be established with a budget and finances in order, and have additional funding available to do marketing in other areas, and upgrade resources to provide ongoing support to at least 10 counties in central Missouri, to include Mexico. She also stated that the organization's primary purpose of saving and protecting unborn lives would be achieved.
"We don't want the community to get angry, and we understand the people's perspective that it looks like Columbia is coming in and taking what was rightfully theirs," Quinn noted. "But we have gone through all the appropriate channels, protected the integrity of the donations and the donors who provided us with the building, and made our decision.
"And though we are grateful for the individuals in Mexico who gave of their resources to help Life Network fulfill its mission, we have to live with the fact that there are going to be certain people who don't understand."
The Mexico Open Arms building was started in December 2007 with a community gift of $58,600 that was given for the start-up costs and the first year expenses of the clinic. The location is now being listed for sale at $59,000 by Century 21 real estate.
Despite the deficits and blame of not fulfilling the organization's mission, Mexico's former Open Arms director Dianne Buffington believes the clinic was making a huge difference in the community, and could have risen above its financial woes if Life Network would consider donating the building back to the community. She was also hopeful that SowJoy Ministries, a non-denominational organization that she founded, would be one of the local non-profit entities that would be considered for the possible take-over. Several community leaders, professionals, local clergy, former Open Arms volunteers and clients wrote letters in her behalf.
Buffington was "shocked" when Life Network announced the closing of the Mexico site, and even more appalled that the organization denied the community's requests to turn the building over to a local entity. An alternative organization called the Grand Crossing Association was also denied.
"What they are doing feels like a plundering; even worse, an abortion," Buffington told The Ledger Tuesday. "Do I believe that this was an honorable thing for Life Network to do. No, I do not believe that it was an honorable thing to do to our community, and to God most of all. They had someone who was willing to try and carry it on, and that was already making a huge difference.
"We weren't about a program, we were about people and the relationships we built."
Buffington worries that because of Life Network's actions, the community may not back another local agency that may try to duplicate the services. But her resolve is that "the Open Arms building is not my saving grace. My saving grace comes from Jesus Christ. And, where there is a will, there is a way to carry on."
Buffington's plea was not the only one. More than two dozen other citizens also wrote letters to Life Network, asking for its consideration in donating the building, including the mayor, the donors of the building, the health department, the Mexico Chamber of Commerce, and the founder of Mexico's original crisis pregnancy center established in 1999, Dr. Harold Lankford. All of them cited the need for the service to continue.
Despite the differences in opinion, Quinn said the services of Life Network are still open to anyone in Audrain County seeking help. The organization is prepared to donate several items of infant and maternity clothing, strollers and cribs, to any local agency that is set up to help people in need. These items are still being housed at the Open Arms building. She also noted there are still two Mexico residents who sit on the Life Network Board of Directors, Raymond Iman and Shelia Kable – who both have the community's best interests in mind.
For more information about these donations, or to voice concern about Life Network's decision, Quinn encourages citizens to contact her at the My Life Clinic – a program of Life Network, at 802 N. Providence Rd. in Columbia, or call (573) 874-3561. Summer hours are Monday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and fall hours are on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.