Project 11 - Birthing Kits for Haiti

This awesome group of women gathered one Sunday evening at my mother in law's home to help bless other women...that they've never met...across the world.

And I thank them from the bottom of my heart.

Back row, L to R: Alicia Whitaker, Dana Rapier, Marcinda Redburn, Georgia Turrentine, Amanda Davis
Front row, L to R: Mindy Merenghi, Casey Smith, Molly Slowensky, Kelley King, Brittany Krueger, Me, Amber Colman, and Kara Fannon.
Not pictured: Shelley Allen and Megan Zika.

Cutting string

Since I hosted the Pad Party (you can read about it here), I had been praying for another opportunity to help. It finally arrived! I actually still had around 50 bags that we sewed at our party. I only sent what I had threaded to Andrea at the time she needed them...and look what I found!

Project 11....needed bags!!!

Our beanie babies

Here is a little info on Project 11 from their website:

"Project 11 will benefit Konbit Sante, a wonderful organization that has, for nearly ten years, worked to provide the education and resources necessary to improve capacity within the public health system of Cap-Haitien, Haiti’s second largest city. Even before the earthquake, Haiti’s health statistics were dismal, and now the need is even greater. Shockingly, one in eight Haitian children dies before the age of five, and their maternal mortality rate is 1,400 deaths for every 100,000 –a reflection of the fact that the majority of the population lives in poverty/on less than a dollar a day. Only one in every 10,000 Haitians has access to a physician."

"For the past three years, Konbit Sante has been spearheading a family planning and maternal health project in the most needy neighborhoods of Cap-Haitien that includes working more closely to support trained birth attendants (TBAs) who attend the vast majority of births in the community. They began supplying them with safe birthing kits to use in their deliveries. TBAs attend the vast majority of births in Haiti and have no formal medical training to speak of. The kits represent a “value added” component to their services, offer a measure of status, and are well received. There is ample evidence internationally that the kits can reduce infant and maternal mortality."

"When you simply need a clean piece of plastic sheeting, a clean piece of string, a new razor blade, an alcohol wipe, and hand sanitizer to save lives during delivery, it is humbling. When you can send a message of hope and solidarity with mothers in Haiti by including a hand made receiving blanket, it is empowering. We may not be able to change much about the challenging reality faced by mothers and children in Haiti, but we CAN do this. And it will matter."

I sent out an email to several of my friends asking if they would want to help...and God answered...through each of them!!

Our assembly line of kit "stuffers"

I was overwhelmed with the response I received. Statements like,

"Count on me FOR SURE!!!!" "Sounds like a fun thing to do!" "The list also makes me appreciate what I have for a birthing experience." "Love doing these projects!"

Each kit we made included:

1 small bar of soap
1 piece of clean plastic sheeting (3 feet wide by 4 feet long)
3 pieces of clean string, 12 inches long
2 alcohol wipe packets
1 set of sterile latex gloves
2 packets (or a travel container) Purelle
1 receiving blanket–36 inches square
1 beanie baby

We put each kit into one our home made bags.

I love seeing how God uses all kinds of women to minister to His people.
We had women in their 20's, and women in their 50's.
We had women with no children, we had women with 4 children.
We had women with grown children, and women who were pregnant.
We had a woman who will be leaving to move overseas as a missionary soon,
and women who have adopted from overseas.
We had stay at home mom's, students, teachers, business women, and counselors.
But we all had one thing in common...a love for other women in Haiti.

As we visited, prayed, and counted our blessings, these bags filled up.
Not only with supplies for a safer delivery, but also love and hope.

I hope I am able to give you an update on the delivery of these bags to the women in Haiti, but even if I can't, I know that there are 50 women who will experience a safer delivery, and 50 babies who will have a better start in this world...and that's all the "outcome" I need.