KOSCIUSKO — Heartline Pregnancy Center thanks community for a successful evening.

On May 3, Heartline Pregnancy Center hosted its annual Gathering of Hope Banquet at the Winona Heritage Room in Winona Lake. Attendance numbers skyrocketed this year as nearly 300 community members gathered to raise over $60,000 to support Heartline’s services to the community.

“Thanks to the record-breaking attendance at the Gathering of Hope Banquet, we were able to raise more money than we ever have from one event,” says Alyx Bates, Heartline’s director of operations. “We’re so grateful for the people in the community who believe in our mission.”

Keynote speaker Kelsey Vander Vliet, who works as the adoption outreach coordinator for the Indianapolis adoption agency Adoption Support Center, shared about her experience as a birth mom and the power of adoption support. She also talked about the blog she founded, From Anotha Motha (fromanothamotha.com), which allows birth moms to connect and encourage each other through the adoption process.

Josh Wildman served as the emcee, entertaining the record-breaking crowd, emphasizing the power of Vander Vliet’s words and recognizing the people who worked behind the scenes to make the banquet a success.

“We’re so grateful to Kelsey and Josh for helping this event run smoothly,” says Katie Jacobson, client advocate. “Josh kept the audience easily engaged, and Kelsey made her heart for birth moms and adoption so evident in everything she said.”

Those still wishing to make donations to Heartline can do so by calling 574-267-5110 or by giving online at www.heartlinepregnancycenter.org/donate.

Heartline is dedicated to combating generational and situational poverty through a variety of programs, working to empower and equip men and women in the community who are involved with an unplanned pregnancy.