COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Two and a half months after a gunman took three lives there, Planned Parenthood is reopening their doors on a resilient day for Colorado Springs.
The president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains spoke to media on Monday, Feb. 16 at their reopening ceremony.
“Even as things were unfolding that day care for the employees, care for the families, our caretakers that day were taking care of the patients even as they themselves were in harms way,” said Vicki Cowart. “That’s the nature of Planned Parenthood.”
During the shooting the main entrance of clinic was damaged due to a tactical vehicle forcing it’s way into the building so patients are having to use an alternate entrance for now.
Cowart said, “When you get here you’ll notice that there’s a big fence all the way around. We have a security guard that’s checking folks as they come in but once they come in and they go through the door it’s going to be like a normal wonderful Planned Parenthood experience.”
The health center is providing their full range of services yet they’re limited to a small portion of the building. Six employees are on the clock at a time, which is about a third of their usual staffing and it’s been busy. Officials say all of their appointments for the day have been booked up.
“The community in Colorado Springs just reached out to us with an outpouring of love and support,” said Cowart. “The city, the county and all the way through Southern Colorado and across Colorado we have heard wonderful, wonderful support and we really appreciate that.”
While there’s still a lot of work to do, a community that has stuck together continues to pick up the pieces after that tragic day.
