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LEWISTOWN -- Mary Smith is trying to inspire hope and change for people who are dealing with abortion. Smith is chairwoman for Mifflin-Juniata County Citizens Concerned for Human Life, a local affiliate of the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation. The group will hold its March for Life on Sunday, March 19.
According to Smith, the march is being used as a way to inspire people to honor and respect life from conception through natural death.
"It just seems the way society is right now we need more prayer," Smith said. "We need to be respectful of human life. The inspiration is basically to follow through with what has been done in the past and have these gatherings to encourage people of all faiths, even people without faith, to come and participate in praying for protection of all human life."
The march begins at 1 p.m., starting at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on N. Dorcas St. and finishing at Bethel AME H.O.P.E Center on N. Juniata St.
After the march, there will be a rally from 1:20 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. When the rally ends, everyone will be welcomed inside the H.O.P.E. Center where Pastor Mike Bailey and other local clergy will be present to offer prayer. There will also be three guest speakers at the event including Bonnie Ritchey from Crossroads Pregnancy Services, Christopher Pushaw, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation and Senator Judy Ward of Pennsylvania's 30th Senatorial District. Smith hopes their stories will help inspire others to celebrate life.
"They work with the local women who may have an unplanned pregnancy or some special needs or are uncertain about their pregnancy," Smith said of the Crossroads Pregnancy Center. "They give them help. They give them different things like clothing and other things that they need for a baby and encourage them to choose life."
"Bonnie Ritchey will be speaking about the successes they have had at the centers in the counties," Smith said. "Senator Judy Ward is excited about coming and participating. She will actually march with us, and she has a personal testimony to give at the Hope Center. Christopher Pushaw will speak about some of the legislation and some of the things that the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation is doing in Harrisburg and over the State. It should be very encouraging. We want it to be upbeat."
Smith encourages the people of both Mifflin and Juniata counties to come with friends and family to celebrate the beauty of human life and encourage others to protect and cherish it.
"We want to encourage people to be positive toward life," Smith said. "All stages of life. But we also want them to pray about that and pray for our country and that everybody will have respect for life."