TOLEDO—The next volunteer training session for Heartbeat of Toledo, a pregnancy support center, is scheduled for Feb. 2.

The agency is looking for volunteers to serve as pregnancy advocates and parenting instructors. Heartbeat provides information, free pregnancy testing, compassionate listening and assistance to girls and women dealing with unplanned pregnancies. The agency also offers prenatal and parenting classes where moms and moms-to-be can earn baby items while learning how to become better parents.

Heartbeat volunteers provide emotional support as clients make decisions about their pregnancies. Volunteers are needed to make appointments, interview clients, help with pregnancy testing and assist girls and women in obtaining social services. Volunteers can also help with prenatal and parenting classes and provide office support.

Heartbeat volunteers assist about 650 women each year.

“With the current economic situation, the need for our services has grown tremendously,” notes Lois Welch, president of Heartbeat’s board of directors. “Many young mothers call our offices asking for emergency diapers and formula. Most of these women end up joining our Heart to Heart program where they can earn those and other baby items. Because of this we have increased our hours. Additional volunteers are needed to help with this increasing demand.”

Volunteer training consists of three, two-hour class sessions. The next sessions are to be held Feb. 2, 9 and 16 from 12:30-2:30 p.m. For more information or to register for volunteer training, call Heartbeat at 419-241-9131.

A volunteer application is also available on Heartbeat’s Web site, heartbeatoftoledo.org.