Save a Babe

On November 4,  2016 I once again had the Blessing of returning to Haiti on a 10 day mission trip.  During this trip I was able to interact with Diane Owens with Waves of Mercy  in regards to the Save a Babe campaign.  Waves of Mercy will be the organization that will be distributing and tracking the boxes.  It was  unfortunate that the funds we needed to send 100 boxes was not met.  We were close enough to the goal that I made the decision to wait for the next shipping container verses lose 50% of the boxes because of the minium purchase required for the price break.  As fate would have it, this also turned into Blessing.  While in Port de Paix we experiened about 12" of rain in three days.  The shacks that the Haitians live in have dirt floors and they turned to mud or had standing water as it rained.  We decide that not only are we going to send the boxes but we are adding Rubbermaid containers for them to sit in.  This will prevent the boxes for getting wet during these events and will also give the parents a container to bath their baby in.

Below is the story of why this weighs heavy on my heart.

Many babies die each day in Haiti from the lack of a safe and clean environment upon birth.  Diarrhea, respiratory infections and malaria are the leading causes.
 
     Hi, my name is Craig Zahner and family consists of my beautiful wife Mona and my five  children Corey, Chelsea, Jesse, Jacquelyne and Aubrey.  I worked for McDonalds restaurants for 20 years and currently I am employeed at Group Dekko in Garrett, Indiana as a Supervisor since 2000.  I have done many fundraising events over the course of my 35 years of employment, however this will be my most abitious goal to date. 
                                        
          On September 4, 2015 I experienced a week long Missionary construction trip to Port-de-Paix, Haiti.  There were eleven of us from the 1st Church of Christ in Garrett, Indiana. The goal was to assist Wave of Mercy in building a Church,  food distribution center and Parish for the Missionaries family in Port-de-Paix.

          My goal is to raise money to create  a distribution system for which I have named "Save a Babe "  Haiti has the highest rates of infant, under-five and maternal mortality in the Western hemisphere. Diarrhoea, respiratory infections, malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS are the leading causes of death.  Some 60 per cent of people, primarily in rural areas, lack access to basic health-care services.



         The goal of the this organization will be to provide  new parents in Port-de-Paix with a box crib for new born babies that will resembles the system Finland has been using for more than 75 years.  It is believed that these Baby Boxes has helped Finland achieve one of the world's lowest infant mortality rates in the world. The Baby Box is credited with helping to decrease Finland's infant mortality rate from 65 deaths for each 1,000 children born in 1938 to 3 per 1000 born in 2013.   
http://babyboxco.com/collections/all/products/copy-of-copy-of-sample-baby-box-1


            The Baby Box provides a safe sleeping environment for infants up to eight months.  By purchasing these boxes and modifying them with the special needs of the Haitian environment, I believe we could make a huge impact on reducing the mortality rate of infants in Port-de-Paix.  The simple act of giving a safe and clean area for the infants to sleep along with the starter kit of water, food, baby care items and mosquito netting will make a huge impact on the living situations currently being endured by newborns.

         I believe that every human has the moral obligation to help one another when the opportunity arises.  We are all given at least one talent by our Heavenly Father and I believe helping others is mine.

       I will be extremely Thankful to all who contibutes to this quest.  Please be assured when the actions above are in place, You Will Save A Life.

      Many Thanks and God Bless;
      Craig Zahner