Today is Abortion Providers Appreciation Day!

Yesterday I got an email from the DC Abortion Fund reminding me that March 10th is Abortion Provider Appreciation Day. Of course, I appreciate all the people that risk their lives to provide abortions to women who need them every day, but DCAF reminded me that (at the very least) one day a year, I should do something to show it. One thing I'm doing is letting everyone else know about this day and about the opportunities to show their appreciation.

Send “Thank You”s to your local providers
NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland offers you the chance to write a message online thanking Maryland abortion providers. The National Abortion Federation asks you to take a picture of yourself with one of their abortion provider appreciation posters so they can send it to providers across the nation. You can also send an email, a card, or drop in to say thanks- just find your local provider on NAF's list. 


Volunteer at a clinic
Volunteering at a clinic really helps to take the pressure off the often overworked employees. There are a number of opportunities to help out. Planned Parenthood of Maryland has a few ways for you to get involved. You can also be a clinic escort- helping patients get safely into the center for their appointments without harassment from protesters. The Washington Area Clinic Defense Task Force (WACDTF) trains and places clinic escorts locally, and escorts are needed across the nation. 


Support your local abortion fund

The DC Abortion Fund is one of over 100 groups around the nation that help women with the financial burden of abortions. They help the women identify ways to pay for the abortion, raise money to give directly to the women, and support policies that remove financial limitations from a woman's right to choose. They're volunteer-run, so all your money goes directly to supporting women who need abortions and the centers who provide them. DCAF serves Maryland, Virginia, and DC and is a great organization, but you can also donate to the National Network of Abortion Funds or find your local abortion fund. 


Support the next generation of providers
Did you know that many medical students are not taught how to perform abortions in school? If they want to learn this simple, common procedure, they have to do it on their own time. Medical Students for Choice (MSFC) says that 57% of abortion providers are over 50, and they want to create a new generation of abortion providers. Donate to MSFC to support abortion care trainings for medical students and foster activist groups of medical students. And if you're a med student, find your school's chapter or start one of your own!


On an everyday basis it is important to remember that supporting a culture of respect for women's decisions will help to make abortions safer, more accessible, and more affordable, and it will help providers do their job without fear.