Seeking an abortion often requires access to childcare, transportation, lodging, emotional support, and other resources that were widely inaccessible pre-pandemic — since, they have become even more scarce. "People getting abortions are stressed," says Dismer. "[Some of them] have to travel out of state, and they have to get funds to pay for some of their care. It's already really stressful, so we want to create as few burdens as possible for them."
To alleviate some of the existing burdens that impact people seeking abortions, agencies offer practical support, or logistical support, that fills in the gaps when it comes to transforming an otherwise operationally impossible procedure into a reality.
"Practical support is expansive and adaptive — it meets the immediate and sometimes unexpected needs of people having abortions," states the website for Apiary, a nonprofit that extends access to logistical support to people seeking abortions. A few examples of practical care offered at nationwide abortion-care agencies include:
- Transportation to and from appointments via car, bus, train, plane, etc. Agencies may also provide gas money for those driving long distances for a procedure.
- Lodging at hotels or in the homes of certified volunteers.
- Funding for meals for people who have to travel several hours, or even days, to receive abortion care.
- Emotional support via text or phone throughout the procedure.
- Childcare (the majority of people seeking abortions already have children).
- Funding for medicine and supplies leading up to, during, and after the procedure.
- Emergency contraception for those looking to avoid a pregnancy.
- Care packets that provide clients with information on how best to seek mental, emotional, and physical assistance in the time surrounding a procedure.
