In a cozy little house off Ranch Road 12, women facing unexpected pregnancies find something precious: hope. The Heart of Texas Pregnancy Resource Center (PRC) offers compassionate support, material resources, and guidance to women during what may be one of the most challenging periods of their lives.
“Women walk in scared; they're trying to make hard decisions, and some of them don't even know where they'll get diapers or formula,” says founder and executive director Debi Wehmeier. “We give them the material resources they need to care for their babies through toddlerhood, and we help meet their emotional and spiritual needs too.”
Wehmeier's journey to establishing the center wasn't without its struggles. After hearing former Planned Parenthood director Abby Johnson speak in 2012, Wehmeier felt called to become actively involved in supporting women with unplanned pregnancies. She opened the first Heart of Texas PRC in east Austin that same year—starting with no salary, no desk, and no supplies.
“We were broke. Our house was about to go on the auction block,” Wehmeier recalls. At the last minute, friends rallied to pay off her mortgage debt, allowing her to pursue her mission.
By 2017, recognizing Dripping Springs’ rapid growth and the needs of its diverse population, Wehmeier expanded to open a second location serving South Austin, Buda, Kyle, and Dripping Springs.
“We see women of all ages here, from teenagers to 40-year-olds,” Wehmeier explains. “There is a large number of women in Dripping Springs that you may not see at H-E-B or church, but they’re here and they need help when they think they might be pregnant.”
The center serves approximately 50 women monthly at the Dripping Springs location. Inside, visitors find a warm, judgment-free environment. The waiting area is child-friendly, and across the lobby, expectant mothers browse the Baby Boutique for essential items.
“The women who come here end up falling in love with us because they know this is a safe place. There's no judgment,” says Wehmeier. “When we get behind closed doors, they tell us things they've never told anybody. And they know it won't go outside these doors.”
Tracey Weissling, who has volunteered as a client
advocate for three years, shares her personal connection to the center's
mission: 'The reason I volunteer here is because my parents chose to give
me life despite advice doctors had given them.”
The center provides comprehensive support—from pregnancy tests and free ultrasound referrals to material resources like car seats, clothing, diapers, and formula. They help women apply for Medicaid, offer parenting and life skills classes, and even throw baby showers.
“We're about so much more than saving babies,"
Wehmeier emphasizes. "We're helping women and families thrive."
Operating entirely on donations without state funding, the center prioritizes both practical and spiritual needs. “We don't take state funding because we want to be able to pray for everyone who walks through our doors,” Wehmeier explains. “We're leaving millions of dollars on the table, but these women need so much more than material resources.”
For those wishing to support Heart of Texas PRC, the center welcomes financial contributions as well as donations of car seats, clothing for babies and toddlers, diapers, and gift cards.
“When you give to Heart of Texas, you’re giving hope to pregnant women who may not have much. You’re also investing in generational transformation,” Wehmeier says. “You have no idea how many lives you’re touching with one gift in the grand scheme of things.”
To learn more or donate, visit HeartOfTexasPRC.org or stop by the center Monday, Wednesday, or Friday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.