Tuesday, October 22, 2024

Tickets are on sale now for our Access for Iowa fall fundraiser! Our early bird special on standard tickets will run for two weeks, followed by ticket bundle and table offers.

Join us for our biggest fundraising event of the year!

The Iowa Abortion Access Fund cordially invites you to our annual fall fundraiser, Access for Iowa. This event will support our mission to provide financial assistance for people in Iowa, including the Quad Cities area, in need of abortion care.

Our team welcomes you to join us on Tuesday, October 22, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at The Loft in Des Moines. Starting August 19 through September 1, we’re offering an early bird special of $85 per ticket. Dress in whatever makes you feel great for a night of socializing and supporting abortion access!

August 19 through September 1, we’re offering an early bird special of $85 per ticket.

Regularly priced tickets will be available September 2 through the day of the event.
1 ticket: $100
2 tickets: $190
3 tickets: $255
4 tickets: $330
Table (8 tickets): $700

Buy your Access for Iowa ticket today!

With the year we’ve had in Iowa, we look forward to an evening in community with one another. We are so grateful for all of your support in helping us continue to provide abortion access; we hope to be able to thank you in person.

The Loft is located at 100 Indiana Ave, in Des Moines, IA. The event is ADA accessible, and parking and security will be onsite.

We hope to see you there!
IAAF Board of Directors

Click here to buy your early bird ticket today.

You can purchase a regularly priced ticket or table.

You can also support Access for Iowa with a one-time donation.

We are excited to see your art work in support of reproductive justice! We will be selecting 10 designs to be printed as posters and postcards and sold in support of abortion access in Iowa.

All proceeds are split 50/50 between IAAF and the artist.

Submission Guidelines:

11′ x 17″ pdf with .125″ bleed

print-ready: 300 dpi

Submission deadline: Midnight on March 24th

You can upload your design and information here:

Questions, please contact info@iaafund.org.

Save the date for the IRL (in real life!) kick-off event at RAYGUN in Des Moines on April 21st.

The FDA is attempting to gain ground against extreme anti-choice restrictions, but it is a far cry from success. We can celebrate the small victories, but only while pushing for bold measures to protect healthcare access for all Americans.

Here are some big takeaways:

Unfortunately, the FDA’s ruling is a baby-step towards increasing access and is bogged down by heavy administrative burdens and reporting requirements that may discourage pharmacies from participating. Most notably, the rule will have no effect in states that already have bans on abortion care.

Mifepristone still requires a prescription from a certified provider who is bound by state laws. (Learn more about CaraFem, the telehealth abortion care provider in Iowa.)

Additionally, an ongoing lawsuit by an anti-choice group in Texas has the possibility of outlawing mifepristone nationally by invalidating the FDA’s approval of the drug. The federal judge the case was filed with is a “former” anti-abortion activist and can issue a nationwide injunction against mifepristone.

For a more complete breakdown, check out this article from SLATE :

The FDA’s Step Forward on Medication Abortion Isn’t Even Close to Enough

Incremental progress will not defeat conservatives’ all-out war on abortion pills.

Thanks to David S. Cohen, Greer Donley, and Rachel Rebouche for their in-depth reporting. Their suggestions for bold action are worth repeating:

“First, the FDA should remove all the unnecessary barriers that silo and stigmatize medication abortion–including the one announced on Tuesday. There is no evidence-based reason for the FDA to limit which providers can prescribe mifepristone or which pharmacies can dispense it. The agency has kept an unnecessary rule in place, and that is not a victory.

Second, an equally bold litigation strategy as the one in Texas is to argue that the FDA’s regulation of medication abortion preempts state abortion bans. This theory, which has yet to be litigated, could restore access to medication abortion throughout the entire country. If the anti-abortion movement wants to remove medication abortion nationwide, there needs to be a plan to restore it nationwide.

Third, plan for defeats, which will no doubt occur. If mifepristone is removed from the market, there is an alternative to keep medication abortion available: misoprostol. Misoprostol is the second drug in a medication abortion, but it is used throughout the world on its own to terminate a pregnancy. Clinics, providers, and professional organizations need to be preparing to switch to misoprostol-only abortions if mifepristone becomes unavailable. This strategy could keep medication abortion available even if the Texas lawsuit is successful.” – SLATE

The federal government needs to take decisive action to increase access, remove funding barriers for those on Medicare/aid, and ensure safe, affordable abortions for all, regardless of the state in which they reside.

The majority of Americans want abortion care for their communities. Recent victories in South Carolina, Michigan, and Kansas give us hope.

More good news:

On December 23, the FDA announced a label change for Plan B that states the medication works to stop or delay ovulation and not to impact fertilization or implantation. This move will help to protect emergency contraception (EC) access as hostile states continue to ban abortion access and attempt to incorrectly classify EC as an abortifacient. 

Additionally, on January 3, the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a legal opinion that the US Postal Service can deliver mifepristone and misoprostol to recipients across the United States, including in states hostile to abortion. 

IAAF continues to fund abortions for Iowa and Quad Cities residents, if you’re able, please consider donating.

Do NOT share your information with them. Beware using any service they offer since they are often not bound by confidentiality because they are not real medical providers.

If you, or someone you know is need of care, find trusted sources here: AbortionFinder.org.

There are currently more than three dozen known CPCs across Iowa. A complete list is below, but for a national map, please visit: crisispregnacycentermap.com.

Here are some tips from Planned Parenthood’s “What are Crisis Pregnancy Centers?” on how to spot fake clinics:

• It’s listed online or on map apps as a pregnancy resource center, pregnancy help center, pregnancy care center, women’s resource center, or abortion alternatives.
• They advertise free pregnancy tests, abortion counseling, pre-abortion screenings, abortion education, post-abortion care, or after-abortion help — but they refuse to help you get an abortion.
• They advertise “abortion pill reversal” or say you can “reverse” an abortion. (This isn’t true — you can’t reverse an abortion.)
• They say abortion is unsafe, or that it leads to cancer, infertility, or mental health problems. (This isn’t true — abortion is one of the safest medical procedures. ​The rate of major complications is less than 1%, and it’s safer than getting your wisdom teeth taken out. Abortion also doesn’t increase your risk for cancer, infertility, or mental health problems.)
• They say negative things about abortion, birth control, condoms, or sex.
• They don’t provide condoms or other effective birth control methods like the pill, patch, ring, shot, IUD, or implant — if they do offer birth control services, it’s usually only the fertility awareness method.
• They try to pressure you into continuing a pregnancy, or placing your future baby for adoption.
• They try to talk about religion even when you don’t want to.
• They say judgmental things about sex before marriage, single parenting, LGBTQ+ people, or people of color.
• They offer items like clothes, diapers, and bottles, but you have to go to lectures and workshops from the CPC to “earn” them.

Knowledge is power. Spread the word and help keep others from being misled about their choices.

Comprehensive list of CPCs in Iowa: all known open and operating fake clinics. 

Northern Iowa:

• Caring Pregnancy Center
  • 830 15th St SW Unit #1, Mason City, IA 50401
• Hope For Life Pregnancy Center
  •  705 N Main St #3, Charles City, IA 50616
• Birthright
  • 605 Grand Ave, Spencer, IA 51301
• Birthright
  •  4113 University Ave, Cedar Falls, IA 50613
• Lighthouse Center of Hope
  • 409 Washington Ave, Iowa Falls, IA 50126
• Alternatives Pregnancy Center
  • 1006 Decathlon Dr, Waterloo, IA 50701
• Cornerstone for Life
  • 800 Oneida St Suite 4, Storm Lake, IA 50588
• Her Health
  • 25 Plymouth St W, Le Mars, IA 51031
• Her Health
  • 5732 Sunnybrook Dr, Sioux City, IA 51106
• Mary’s Choice
  • 4415 Stone Ave, Sioux City, IA 51106

Eastern Iowa:

• Bridgehaven Pregnancy Support Center
  • 4250 Glass Rd NE Suite 100, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
• Birthright
  • 375 Collins Rd NE # 107, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
• Birthright
  • 341 E College St, Iowa City, Ia 52240
• Informed Choices
  • 821 S Gilbert St, Iowa City, IA 52240
• The Pregnancy Center
  • 240 N Bluff Blvd, Clinton, IA 52732
• Pregnancy Resources
  • 2706 W Central Park Ave, Davenport, IA 52804
• Women’s Choice Center of the Quad Cities
  • 2740 Happy Joe Dr, Bettendorf, IA 52722

Central Iowa:

• Alpha Women’s Center
  • 114 SW State St, Ankeny, IA 50023
• Obria Medical Clinic
  • 1606 Golden Aspen Dr STE 105, Ames, Iowa 50010
• Alpha Women’s Center
  • 3605 SE 14th St, Des Moines, IA 50320
• Agape Pregnancy Center
  • 2550 Martin Luther King Jr Pkwy, Des Moines, IA 50310
• Intervisions
  • 500 Army Post Rd STE 100, Des Moines, IA 50315
  •  1355 50th St #400, West Des Moines, IA 50266
• LC Clinic
  • 212 S Division Street, Stuart, IA 50250
• The Growing Place
  • 408 S 11th St, Oskaloosa, IA 52577
• Pathways
  • 703 Main St, Pella, IA 50219
• Birthright
  •  111 E Marion St, Knoxville, IA 50138

Southern Iowa:

• Pregnancy Center of SW Iowa
  • 101 E Reed St, Red Oak, IA 51566
• LC Clinic
  • 1109 Sumner St, Creston, IA 50801
• Heartland Pregnancy Center
  •  101 S Market St # 302, Ottumwa, IA 52501
• Hope Pregnancy Center
  • 118 N 12th St, Centerville, IA 52544
• Birthright
  • 629 Blondeau, Keokuk, IA 52632
• Cradle of Hope
  • 503 22nd St, Ft. Madison, IA 52627
• Cradle of Hope
  • 1400 E Washington St, Mt Pleasant, IA 52641
• Cradle of Hope
  • 400 Highland St, Fairfield, IA 52556
• Informed Choices
  • 1013 S Central Ave, Burlington, IA 52601
• Birthright
  • 1113 S Main St, Burlington, IA 52601

Western Iowa:

• Gabriel’s Corner
  •  131 S 16th St, Council Bluffs, IA 51501
• Birthright
  • 427 E Kanesville Blvd # 303, Council Bluffs, IA 51503

Leah Vanden Bosch

she/her/hers – Des Moines, Iowa

“We’re talking a lot about normalizing abortion right now, and I feel like I had a pretty normal experience of an unplanned pregnancy. I had been dating someone for about six weeks and had actually ended the relationship two weeks before I found out that I was pregnant. So I was single, and I was new to Des Moines. I had lived here for eight months. I was just a week into my new job, and I was actually here alone. I had a great roommate, but she had to move back for the summer, so at that time I was living alone.

Part of my story is that I am in recovery from an eating disorder, so I was definitely able to tell I was pregnant. I know my body well, and I knew something wasn’t right. And even when I was starting to have the feeling I was pregnant, I knew right away that I would have an abortion. I hadn’t really thought about it much for myself before, but it was just my first thought of knowing that was what I needed to do with where I was at in life.

I’m from northwest Iowa, Orange City, and a very conservative Christian family, and I’m very close to my family. I was raised to believe that abortion is murder. That ate at me the whole time. I don’t think my experience needed to be as traumatic or as big of a deal as it was. A lot of my mental health struggles and my eating disorder, a lot of what plays into that is wanting to meet peoples’ expectations, and this was another way I was going to let them down. And it was very difficult because of that, just to process what I was going through. 

My roommate was so supportive – I just caught up with her the other day and thanked her again, because I knew I could make that decision knowing I would have support. She came back to be with me that day. 

My abortion was very quick, and safe. I was made to feel comfortable. They let my roommate come back for my abortion, her and the nurse held my hand. I walked out of that room and recovered for thirty minutes. They gave me soda and crackers in the waiting room. When we left, we went and got Panera Bread. It was easy – everyone deserves that. It’s different for everyone, but I do think that the normal doesn’t get shared enough.

My abortion was five years ago almost to to the day, and I’m having lots of feelings of gratitude. I have more confidence and more reassurance than ever right now, knowing I did the right thing, and knowing I don’t need to be ashamed of my decision. I better understand the need for abortion as a whole after hearing so many others’ stories, knowing that the choice truly needs to be up to the pregnant person. You leave it at that, and that gives you peace. And that’s a good way of describing how I feel, I feel very at peace with my decision. I’m not significant in that I am one of four cis women, under the age of forty, who get an abortion in their lifetime. It’s so normal.

I didn’t realize how stigmatized abortion really was. I had to live through it and work through it to get there. I started as this little baby activist who grew up as a Republican. As I met folks and learned their stories, I would start to get these pangs of discomfort, and then recognize it as judgment or shaming someone. In my own experience, knowing how personal it was, you can’t duplicate it, so you know, I can’t ever interpret someone else’s experience. At the end of the day, they know what’s best for themselves, and you respect them, you love them. I realized I was still learning so much, and it took time to work through that discomfort for myself. People need to be willing to do the work and it’s not easy, but I’m glad I’m doing it.

I wish people knew and understood that abortion really is life-saving healthcare. I know it saved my life in a very black and white way. I struggle with suicidal ideation, and I did attempt to commit suicide when I was twelve. So I took myself very seriously when I was going through this. I was in a really horrible, dark place. I saw something the other day that said, “Abortion is Suicide Prevention”, and that’s one hundred percent my experience. I would have rather taken my life than continue that pregnancy. And I know from the stories I’ve heard that there are many folks who have felt the same way. It’s life-saving healthcare, and it’s someone’s personal, medical decision. No one should be able to challenge that.”

Iowa Abortion Access Fund, in partnership with board member and photographer, Jasper Chung Photography, is highlighting this ongoing series of abortion stories. If you are interested in participating in this series by sharing your story, please fill out this google interest form: https://forms.gle/fMXhRAzhDm1ztpxM9.

For questions please contact Jasper Chung at jasperchung517@gmail.com.

When I needed an abortion 11 years ago I turned to the internet, like any teenager would. I was met with conflicting information, lies from anti-abortion organizations, and lots of shaming language. Navigating this as an anxious 15 year old made my abortion experience much worse. I was scared of clinics and doctors, didn’t want to face the anti-abortion protestors, and didn’t yet have my drivers liscense. It was just another barrier to accessing care. I wish Carafem was a resource I had access to when I needed it, and I’m relieved it’s available to people seeking abortion care today.

Carafem’s services are easy to use. They provide medication abortion for pregnancies that are 10 weeks gestational age or less. All you need is a mailing address in Iowa and a dated ultrasound. To schedule an appointment or get questions answered, visit carafem.org or call them at 1-855-SAY-CARA. They offer different abortion medication options, ranging from $250 – $375. 

Obtain a dated ultrasound before your appointment. Carafem has a list of ultrasound providers in Iowa, but you can also check with your local provider or clinic for ultrasound options.

Please be wary of Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs). These religious, privately funded, anti-abortion organizations pose as abortion clinics and often offer free ultrasounds. This is not a safe option, as CPCs have been known to lie to clients about the gestational age, use shaming language, non-consensual medical practices, and do not follow HIPAA standards. Here is a map of known CPCs in the US.

Carafem can provide abortion pills to minors. Iowa law requires that if you are under 18 years old, your guardian or a grandparent be told of your decision via certified mail 48 hours before your abortion. A judge can excuse you from this requirement through a process called a judicial bypass. Planned Parenthood works with lawyers to help minors obtain judicial bypass. United Action for Youth in Iowa City can help as well.

Financial assistance is available. The Iowa Abortion Access Fund (IAAF) is proud to partner with Carafem to help cover the cost of abortion services. IAAF provides grants to any Iowa resident who requests one. When you schedule an appointment with Carafem, they can screen you for other national funds they partner with. 

Medication abortions are extremely common and safe. After attending a 30 minute video appointment, abortion pills will arrive in discreet packaging within 1-3 business days. Carafem has a helpful page on abortion care and recovery. The Miscarriage & Abortion Hotline connects you via text or phone with doctors with years of experience helping people manage abortion and miscarriage if you need additional support.

Telehealth abortion services in Iowa are more important now than ever. Currently only 6 abortion clinics exist in Iowa. 95% of Iowa counties have no clinics that provide abortions. That means for many pregnant people in Iowa, they have to travel. Travel means the cost of missing work, childcare (59% of people getting abortions already have at least 1 child), transportation, and lodging. These extra expenses can be the difference between being able to get an abortion or not for the 75% of people getting abortions who are low income. (Shoutout to the Midwest Access Coalition for all they do to reduce these barriers!)

Abortion pills are amazing and have changed the way we are able to access abortion. They should be easily accessible to anyone who needs them free of charge. However, they are not a solution for everyone seeking abortion. They can often only be prescribed up to 10-11 weeks of pregnancy. Even during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy, abortion pills aren’t the right option for everyone. A medication abortion means you need somewhere safe and private with access to a bathroom. Not everyone has that. It also means seeing and interacting with pregnancy tissue. Not everyone wants that. We need to advocate for free abortion, on demand, without apology for every single person. We need to make sure abortion procedures that happen in-clinic are just as accessible as medication abortions. We need to support every single person who needs an abortion by giving them the option to choose what method works best for them. 

You can learn more about accessing medication abortion by mail at Plan C Pills. For information on how to access abortion in Iowa click here. 

The Iowa Abortion Access Fund (IAAF), a Cedar Rapids-based nonprofit that provides financial assistance to individuals seeking abortions, is moving their annual poster show online. Beginning April 1, 2022, and continuing through April 30, the show offers 10 different posters for $12 each. For each sale, RayGun will give $6 to IAAF and $6 to the artist.   

Currently, individuals are unable to receive any public funding for abortions or abortion-related medical expenses, unless life endangerment, rape, incest or a fetal anomaly is determined.  The governor must approve Medicaid-funded abortion.   Since 1978, IAAF has made payments directly to clinics to partially cover the costs that would otherwise be unaffordable by our clients.

The Art for Access poster show is an affordable way to help raise money for IAAF and support local artists. Visit RayGun all throughout April to choose from 10 different posters and artists for just $10 each. For more information about IAAF, visit their website at iowaabortionaccessfund.org.   

This is the perfect gift for any hard to shop for pro-choicer in your life who values social equality far more than any object and maybe even the perfect anonymous gift for the pro-lifer in your life.

To protect donors, board members, and community, IAAF will move our Annual Auction for Access entirely ONLINE for 2021. Our team is making a number of significant changes to ensure the safety of our patrons while maintaining the spirit and financial support necessary to continue our critical mission. Click on the link below to learn more and participate in the event.

For more information, please visit our auction page. 

PURCHASE TICKETS: https://www.iowaabortionaccessfund.org/shop/ 

IOWA CITY, IA, July 7, 2021 — Chef Gabrielle Hamilton, a four-time James Beard award winner and New York Times bestselling author, will demonstrate how to prepare an elegant springtime meal for your family and friends right from the comfort of your own kitchen (via Zoom).

This interactive event will take place on August 14^th at 6:30 PM CT, 7:30 PM ET. Cost is a recommended donation of $75 per group to the Iowa Abortion Access Fund (IAAF), plus the cost of ingredients. A limited number of tickets are available at https://www.iowaabortionaccessfund.org/shop/ 

Hamilton is the chef/owner of PRUNE in New York City, a monthly columnist for The New York Times Magazine, and is currently at work on her next book.  

Her menu for the evening includes boned in pounded pork cutlet Alla Milanese, Pole beans braised in olive oil, Mustard greens with bagna cauda and Sgroppino. 

IAAF is delighted to have Gabrielle share their time, talents, and generosity with our organization.  Her delicious menu for the evening builds off of locally available Iowa foods and adds her creative flair to produce an Italian-themed meal.

IAAF will email participants a shopping list and wine suggestions after ticket purchase.  

All ticket sales will go to IAAF, an Eastern Iowa non-profit organization dedicated to providing Iowans financial assistance and access to abortion services when they lack the resources to pay.  

Purchase tickets here.

Email: info@iaafund.org 

This event is sponsored by Little Village.