MUNSTER – A partnership between The Dorothy Abel Purcell Pro-Life Foundation of Munster, and Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Gary, has opened the Women’s Care Center in Hammond.

The center is at 7127 S. Indianapolis Blvd. and is one of 19 such facilities in Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. The foundation provided $120,000 for its first year of operation.

Catholic Charities is responsible for staffing the center. It currently has two full-time employees, an ultrasound technician and a nurse. It will provide free pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, counseling and parenting classes.

The center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, and from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday. For information, call (219) 554-1774.