Sweet BEE-ginning: Ashland Pregnancy Care Center Dedicates Its Future Home With Joy, Faith & Community Spirit
ASHLAND, OH – Under the warmth of a July sun and an even warmer outpouring of community support, the Ashland Pregnancy Care Center officially dedicated its future home at 2111 Claremont Avenue today in a heartfelt ceremony filled with gratitude, celebration, and hope.
The “Sweet BEE-ginning” Building Dedication was far more than a ribbon-cutting—it was a sacred milestone, a living testimony to answered prayers, God’s faithfulness, and the power of unity within the Ashland community.
Over 100 residents, supporters, church leaders, and city officials gathered for the midday ceremony, using their “outside voices” when a sound system wasn’t available—yet another reminder that sometimes, the most powerful moments don’t require microphones.
Executive Director Melanie Miller, now in her 10th year of service, welcomed guests and shared the remarkable story of how the vision for a unified, expanded Pregnancy Care Center campus came to be.
“For years we’ve operated out of three separate locations, juggling services and stretching space to meet growing needs,” Miller explained. “We have prayed earnestly for one facility where all our services could come together under one roof—and God has been faithful.”
That faithfulness came to life in the form of a miracle: the donation of a $1.1 million, 12,800-square-foot building by the Samaritan Hospital Foundation—a gift that will allow the center to consolidate and expand its vital services to women and families facing unexpected pregnancies.
“We started praying at a red table in a tiny house on Sloan Avenue with ugly green walls and stained carpet,” Miller recalled, her voice full of emotion. “We asked God for a building. And He gave us this one—completely donated. It’s more than we could have imagined.”
Melody Barnes, speaking on behalf of the Samaritan Hospital Foundation, emphasized the Foundation’s long-standing commitment to community health and wellness.
“This building will now serve a greater purpose—becoming a hub for care, compassion, and connection,” Barnes said. “We believe in the work of the Ashland Pregnancy Care Center and the light it brings to our community.”
Ashland Mayor Matt Miller echoed that sentiment in a message filled with both humor and heartfelt reflection. After joking about the missing power cord for the sound system (“It’s in my trunk”), the mayor reminded attendees that “God acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.”
“Melanie has spent years driving through empty parking lots, praying over buildings that didn’t belong to the center—yet,” he said. “Today, we’re standing in front of the right building. And that’s a miracle worth celebrating.”
The Pregnancy Care Center, known for offering no-cost, confidential services without shame or judgment, has become a trusted support system for women and families in Ashland County. With the new facility, they will be able to expand medical services, launch new initiatives such as STI/STD testing, provide on-site childcare, and accommodate more mentoring and parenting classes—all in one centralized, welcoming space.
As part of the celebration, the Center officially launched a $1.5 million capital campaign to fund renovations, furnishings, staffing, and technology needed to bring the new space to life. In a moving gesture, longtime community supporters Fred and Lori Gottfried jumpstarted the campaign with a generous $100,000 donation, inspiring applause and even a few tears among those in attendance.
“We’re blessed to live in a community that comes together to support one another,” said Fred Gottfried. “This place will bless families for generations.”
The event concluded with EVA’s Treats frozen yogurt, cookies, and a chance to tour the future lobby of the facility—still under construction, but already radiating purpose and potential.
For Miller, the dedication marked the culmination of years of persistence and prayer, and the beginning of a new era of ministry.
“Today is not about a building,” she said. “It’s about the lives that will be changed inside of it. It’s about choosing life, walking alongside women and families, and offering hope—one heartbeat at a time.”
To support the Ashland Pregnancy Care Center’s capital campaign or learn more about their services, visit ashlandcarecenter.org.
