The Effingham Planned Parenthood Center, located at 415 W Virginia Ave, has officially shut it’s doors as of this month. A phone call to the facility confirmed that it is closed. Clients of the center have been asked to use the facility in Champaign instead.
According to Planned Parenthood Manager of External Affairs, Julie Lynn, the Effingham location closed because there was a lack of demand in the area.
“The reason we closed the Effingham health center is because there wasn’t a demand for our services,” Lynn said in an email. “The health center decreased hours to 1 day a week a couple years ago, but there still wasn’t a demand. One day per week doesn’t offer sufficient convenience, but there is not enough unmet need in Effingham for PPIL (Planned Parenthood Illinois) to offer more extended hours.”
However, Lynn also said that the Effingham location’s closing had nothing to do with various protests that took place outside of the clinic. Congressman John Shimkus, of Illinois 15th District, held press conferences outside of several Planned Parenthood locations in Illinois last year, including Effingham, where he spoke on congressional efforts to end federal funding of the nonprofit group.
As of now, there are no plans to reopen the Effingham facility.