Grants helped Stokes center

The Hope Pregnancy Care Center in the Stokes County town of King doesn't take state or federal money because its director doesn't want the government directing its Christian-centered services.

But the center gladly accepted when a lawmaker offered $82,000 in taxpayer money to pay off the nonprofit's mortgage on a former Baptist church building. The $82,000 is more than double what the center receives each year in private donations and rent.