I would like to share a note that we received some time ago from a woman we helped, and it’s memorable to me because it illustrates the importance of what we do.

I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Deciding between paying my bills and having my procedure was tough. With your help, I was able to do both. People like you are a true blessing for those in need. I pray that you are able to continue to be a blessing to others in need and one day I may be able to help someone as well. Thank you for the blessing. Sincerely, Katherine*

Today we have a guest post from Elizabeth Miller, a board member with one of our sister abortion funds, the Eastern Massachusetts Abortion (EMA) Fund. The anniversary of the Hyde Amendment got her thinking about reproductive justice, and what it means to her. Read her thoughts below:

On August 1, something truly momentous occurred. Thanks to the new health care law—known as the Patient Protection andAffordable Care Act, or just the Affordable Care Act, or even Obamacare—insurance companies are required to cover women’s preventive health services without additional charges, such as co-pays. For many women, this means that they can now afford the contraceptive method that is best for them. Now, there are some important caveats to this—not every insurance plan provides the same benefits, and only newly written plans have to comply with the law at first so not everyone’s insurance will offer this benefit for now, and the vast numbers of uninsured women in the United States will still be paying out of their pockets for their reproductive health care—or, even worse, not getting the health care they need.

With the upholding of the Affordable Care Act (and all of its benefits for women!) still fresh in our minds, it’s easy to forget that there’s a larger political battle still going on. A woman’s right to make decisions about herself and her body is still under attack in Ohio. Supporters of the so-called Heartbeat Bill are still pushing for it, personhood is fighting for a spot on Ohio’s ballot (though it may not succeed), and Ohio still has an openly anti-choice House of Representatives, Senate, and governor. Our communities need to be ready to advocate for women and against the dangerous legislative climate in our state. Luckily, Ohio has a strong progressive community that we are proud to be a part of. When they hear the call, they take to the streets—or the statehouse—and they get heard!

Last weekend, Women Have Options attended the National Network of Abortion Funds (NNAF) National Organizing Summit in Chicago.