COAL GROVE - Bags of diapers are stacked neatly on a shelf beside cans of formula and receiving blankets.

Shopping bags of little outfits stand against the freshly painted wall. Leigh Ann Adams and Sue Fultz are getting the furniture put into place in anticipation of the young women needing help who will soon walk through the door.

Two Hearts Pregnancy Care Center has opened an office on Marion Pike in Coal Grove, next to Dr. Margaret Ng's office. The organization seeks to help pregnant women find alternatives to abortion, either by keeping their baby or placing it for adoption. All services are free.

"We want to provide compassionate care and information to women who are facing the crisis of an unplanned pregnancy," said Two Hearts Executive Director Sue Fultz. "We provide counseling, education and referrals (to other agencies). The only thing we do not recommend or make referrals for is abortion."

Two Hearts opened an office in Ashland in 1999. Fultz said many Lawrence countians have visited the Ashland office and they are aware that many more Ironton area women need help but do not have transportation to Ashland.

Assistance is available for young women while they are pregnant and, if they choose to keep their baby, until the child is 1 year old. Parenting classes and healthcare classes are available and those who attend the classes may receive "Baby Bucks" that enable them to "purchase" baby items from the "Bundles of Joy" room at the center. Information on adoption is also available.

Two Hearts is funded entirely by local donations and is staffed mostly by volunteers. The agency has three part-time and one full-time position. Many volunteers come from local churches, and already Lawrence County congregations are embracing the Christian organization.

"We've gotten a lot of things from the Catholic community here," said Adams, who is the director of the Coal Grove office.

Local residents have also volunteered to work at the center. Adams said she hopes others will follow suit.

The office hours are 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Evening appointments may be made by calling

the helpline. Those who want to volunteer or who want to donate baby items may call (606)

325-7654.

Two Hearts also has a 24-hour-a-day helpline: 1-800-395-HELP. Women who need counseling may call this number.

"We want them to know we're here," Adams said as she straightened the outfits and hung them in a row. "We want them to know someone cares."