I'm Melissa McCarthy

This year I decided to give a Mother's Day gift to my two young daughters. They're obviously not moms, but they might be one day, if they choose to be. This Mother's Day I taught them about Planned Parenthood and I explained how this gift will fight for their freedom and future regarding their reproductive rights.

When I was living in New York in my 20s, with little money (I'm fairly certain my bedroom was technically a closet) and with no health insurance, Planned Parenthood was the only place I could afford for health care. It was my only access to the birth control and annual check-ups. Planned Parenthood was my lifeline for taking control of my health.

I will never forget the compassionate, expert care that I got every time I walked through their doors. Sadly, I will also never forget the sea of protestors I had to fight through just to enter those doors, and how they made me feel.

Now, decades later, those protesters have only gotten louder. And even though they're in the minority (YES! MOST people support reproductive health care and every person's right to control their own bodies!), but the bullies are so loud that their views are gaining traction in our state governments and laws. My daughters could not understand why someone that they've never even met would assume that they should be able to make decisions about their health care and their bodies.

Since January, more than 500 abortion restrictions have been introduced in 46 states. Those laws are telling us what to do with our ovaries. It's downright scary, and we have to join together. Planned Parenthood is out there for all of our access to sexual and reproductive health care, and they need our support.

Together we can be louder, but it's not enough to think it or feel it — we have to show support by taking action, speaking out, educating ourselves, and supporting care for all. Let's remind people that while they may be really loud, there are more of us over here fighting for the right thing. If you can, I urge you to make a donation (even a little bit goes a long way) to Planned Parenthood to everyone's access to reproductive care.