#savethebabies: Help Children Rise out of Poverty

Lindsey, age 17, took part in a mission trip to Real Hope for Haiti, one of our Haiti Diaper Drops. At Real Hope for Haiti, there are about 75 children of diapering age, recovering from extreme malnutrition. We've been blessed to supply them with cloth diapers for the past three years. Prior to that, the only diapers they had were a barrel of blue rags donated after the earthquake. The staff and mission teams have expressed extreme gratitude for the blessing of cloth diapers,and we are working diligently at meeting their diapering needs.

Here is Lindsey's story. 

On June 16th, 2016, I left on a trip that would change my life forever. At 11 o’clock in the morning, we boarded our first plane. It was my first time even flying, so it’d better be worth the $816. I just remember my head was in so much pain because I had cried so much that morning. I felt so light headed, I had built up anxiety, and didn’t eat because I was scared of getting sick on the plane. The plane was cold, crowded, and uncomfortable. “oh no, please let this trip be better.” I thought to myself.

We reached Atlanta and relaxed in the airport until it was time to board the next plane. At this point, 15 year old Ethan S. and I searched the airport for food. The Atlanta airport was so large! We rode on a train in order to get from terminal to terminal. We ended up getting some Popeyes chicken and fries! I didn’t have the guts to call my parents one more time because I knew if I did, I would cry. But it was my last chance of talking to them for the next 10 days. I ended up just shooting them a text that It was time and that I'd talk to them as soon as I could! 

On the plane to Haiti, they called it the Mission’s Flight because everyone on that flight was going to Haiti on a mission. We didn’t arrive to Port-Au-Prince until around 9 P.M. Casey Zachary (Zach) was the man picking us up from the airport. Immediately after walking off the plane, there was a new sweet smell in the air, and it wasn’t as hot as I expected it to be. I was told that the sweet smell was the smell of burning tires and bodies. All 4 of us, Melissa, Bryan, Ethan, and I, all gathered into the truck. 

“This is the last cool air you’ll be getting for the next week and a half” I was reminded by Melissa.

As we drove through Port-Au-Prince, we noticed that there were fires on the side of the road. They were burning trash and tires in order to protest, or just simply get rid of it. One of the biggest reasons people were protesting was because the Port-Au-Prince Hospital was shut down by the government. People were not getting the treatment they needed and it’s probably got to do with the inventory of their supplies.

We arrived to Cazale! It was probably a 40 minute drive from Port-Au-Prince. We drove up the mountain- who needs roads anyways? 

When we pulled up to our home for the next week, it was dark outside. It was still kinda hectic. I felt so nervous. People were everywhere, people always wanted inside the compound because it’s where the hospital, clean water, and the ICU was located.( But they also had a respect for the compound because we were there to help.) Now, as that may sound like a lot, it was no more than just two large houses, a green aluminum gate, a small concrete pavilion, and a couple of water tanks.

The first thing our eyes were drawn to in Casale was the fact that two men were carrying a small dead body covered with only a sheet. I would’ve liked to believe it wasn’t a body…

The next morning, I woke up to little kids laughing and babies crying. I couldn’t tell if the crying was from pain or hunger. The ICU was right underneath Melissa and I’s room. The cries started to kinda sound like kitten mews. I looked at the clock, it was no later than 5:37 in the morning. There were people outside the gate setting up their small shacks in order to sell fried food, candy, and rice. Melissa was awake, but Bryan and Ethan were both still asleep. I don’t know how they were since I woke up in my own puddle of sweat.

We finally met the kids at around noon the first day. We walked down the stairs and the kids were playing on the concrete step with a couple of Lincoln logs. It was one of their favorite (and only) toys. There were at least 20 kids in the ICU, a lot of them seemed to be preoccupied with running back and forth and climbing on us. They couldn’t, nobody could, speak English. The first hug I got was from a small little boy named Seismiel. He was probably the age of 3 or 4 and he seemed completely healthy. See? That’s one of the hardest and saddest parts about learning the kids’ stories. A minority of the kids were healthy and ready to go home, but over time the parents decide they can’t afford, have too many other kids, don’t want, or have passed away while their child was in care. But don’t get me wrong because I definitely saw two mothers come in to see the kids the whole time I was there.

I walked into the ICU room. There were nothing but cribs and bunk beds and the sickest kids. The healthy kids were towards the back of the room, while the sickest kids were in the front towards the “door.” Unfortunately, we lost 2 or 3 kids over the course of a week and a half. I had never experienced a small child dying. 

One thing I realized is that unless the child was one of the older ones, the ones trying to communicate and speak to us, is that every other child still had a diaper on. The kids always needed to be changed. If you have kids, or even just one kid, think of how many diapers you go through in a day. A week. A year. Now multiply that... Some of these 3 year olds still had full time diapers on! Can you imagine having to change so many diapers in a day? Fortunately enough, Real Hope for Haiti got their hands on some cloth diapers. Cloth diapers are a NECESSITY to the children! In a week’s time, there would be absolutely no place to put the diapers. The filth would just build and build. That’s why they are in need of help and support. Cloth diapers- more cloth diapers- can be washed over and over. And if you’re thinking about how they wash the cloth diapers, I want you to keep in mind that the nannies do not use the clean water. A lot of the time the nannies will wash the diapers in rain water for temporarily clean diapers, but at least once every day or two they will make their way to the river outside the gate. A lot of people wash up in the river. They wash their clothes, dishes, and even their bodies in the river.

One baby who left a serious impact on me is named Francelene. She had the biggest, most beautiful eyes. She was very skinny… she was six months old and weighed 5 1/2 lbs when she was admitted. Her mama was sick and unable to care for her, and her grandmother had taken her to church to have people pray for her and see if she could find help somewhere. Some members of the church offered to make the trip to Cazale, since grandma wasn't able to walk very far on her own. She was in the beginning stages of kwashiorkor (protein/calorie malnutrition) when admitted and had a fever. 

Every week the clinic will weigh the patients to see how much they have gained or lost. Believe it or not,  a week makes a huge difference in Haiti. The kids who are severely malnourished are fed a peanut butter substance called “Medika Mamba.” I don’t know if Francelene was on the Medika Mamba or not, but I know that by the time I left, that 4 pound baby had gained 3 pounds by the time I left. I fed her and clothed her. I miss her every single day and I love seeing updates about her and the other kids. I think the most emotional point between Francelene and I was the last time I was allowed to see her. I started saying out loud that I hope she will strive so she can go back to her mommy. And yes, her mom did come to see her while I was there. 

Most kids in Haiti are malnourished if the mother isn’t able to produce breast milk. Most mothers don’t know better, or don’t have anything other than rice to try to keep their children alive. Unfortunately, that does not have the correct nutrition a child can survive off of. Most people have access to fruit like mangos, plantains, and melon. Meat is scarce in Haiti. One night, we had fried chicken for dinner… The cooking was wonderful! However, there was very little meat on the bone. No where near what we are used to. So protein is also very deficient. 

I would like to get my paramedic technician degree, and then go on to be a trauma nurse. All of this was inspired by Haiti and I can't imagine my life any differently. Someday, I'd love to live in Haiti and be able to help the ones who need it most. 

~ Lindsey Y. 

Have you ever had someone make a difference in your life? Maybe it's someone you know, or maybe it's someone you have never even met. There are kind-hearted people in this world, people who truly believe in helping lift one another up.

These kind-hearted people rarely get the recognition they deserve and do what they do not for glory and honor, but because it is the right thing to do. They exhibit a passion to pursue positive change in the lives of others, others they may not ever meet on this side of Heaven.

Here at Jake's Diapers, we have key volunteers who do just this. They give of their time, talent, and treasure to help the least of these, answering God's call to help those in need. Stella is one of these amazing volunteers who just gives selflessly.

In 2014, at the age of 7, Stella first learned of Jake's Diapers and our work with poverty-stricken babies, children, and adults in need of cloth diapers in Guatemala. Stella took it upon herself to host a lemonade stand, to raise funds to buy diapers for babies in Guatemala. She did this because she has a generous heart, without ever being asked to do this. One day we received a letter and check in the mail, introducing us to Stella and her amazing heart.

In 2015, now 8 years old, Stella was back at it again. This time, the Green Bay chapter of the Rising Tide Society, Starry Realty, and Jake's Diapers were teaming up for a Packing Party to pack urgent needs for babies in Guatemala and Haiti. Little Miss Stella took it upon herself to personally call friends and family to ask them to help the babies in Guatemala. Stella's efforts resulted in more than $600 in monetary donations and very generous amounts of cloth diapers and infant formula (for babies whose Moms died in or shortly after childbirth) were collected.

In 2016, now at 9 years old, Stella once again raised funds to provide the basic need of cloth diapers when we launched our GlobalGiving crowdfunding campaign in March, and she is planning another Lemonade Stand.

Now life is about to get even more exciting for Stella... Shopko and the Green Bay Packers have teamed up to celebrate Wisconsin children who are making a positive impact in their community and beyond through Shopko's Kids Making a Difference program. And.. they selected STELLA to be the Kick-Off Kid at the August 18th preseason game at Lambeau Field!

We are so excited for Stella, it is truly amazing the impact one passionate person can have. We have added a new project here on GlobalGiving focusing directly on our four Diaper Drops in Guatemala. This new project is Be the Change: Saving Babies in Need in Guatemala.  Be sure to check it out and join us in celebrating Stella! 

This journey of Jake's Diapers never ceases to amaze me. One of our newest Diaper Drops is working with elder care facilities in Latvia, who have an incredible need for adult incontinence products. While our focus is on cloth diapers, we do accept donations of disposables and by golly have we been blessed by donations and donations of adult diapers. 

One day, 36 cases (yes, cases) appeared in my garage. As if that wasn't enough, there seems to be a new stream of donations that just appear at our office. We are incredibly thankful for each and every donation, and we are working with the Orphan Grain Train to transport them via cargo ship to Latvia, for distribution to poverty stricken elder care facilities in desperate need of the basic necessities. 

But that's not all. Cases upon cases of baby blankets were donated as well.  Boxes were stacked floor to ceiling, and our office was looking like an episode of Hoarders for a short time. These baby blankets also are making their way to Latvia and Haiti, along with cloth diapers. 

There is great need in Latvia for all of these items and in 4 trips with large moving vans and pickup trucks our office space was reclaimed and these goods are on their journey to Latvia! It is because of your support that the life changing work we do is possible.  Through you, we have been blessed to have our very own office space. This space has enabled us to grow and receive these generous donations, and then match them up with those in need. This space also enables us to work efficiently, and host groups of volunteers who are helping to not only change lives, but save them as well, one diaper at a time. 

More than a Diaper: Mary's Story

Mary* is a local Mom with two infant children. The domestic abuse started slowly, and over time became worse and worse. With a controlling husband (both physically and financially), Mary found herself in a desperate, dire situation. She took her two children, with nothing but the clothes on their backs, and left. Being financially destitute, she and her young children are in a dire situation. Through our partnership with The Metta Birth Project, they received two sets of cloth diapers.

For them, this means not having to worry about where the next diapers will come from. While disposable diaper banks do exist, for Mary, they are not an easy option. Disposable diaper banks limit how many you can have per visit (usually 7 to 14 per child), and are limited to two visits a month. This also doesn't include travel time and cost, as well as waiting time (usually an hour per visit). Because of your generous support, diapers are no longer a worry for Mary and her children. The gift of 2 cloth diaper kits will meet the entire diapering needs for both of her children. The impact for Mary runs much deeper than the financial savings, it's a feeling of security and peace. It's one less worry for her. One basic need met, so she can then focus her time and energy on her next steps up and out of her current situation. These might just be diapers, but for Mary and her children, it truly is so much more than a diaper.

Solving Diaper Need for Our Veterans

In addition to The Metta Birth Project, we are excited to announce another local collaboration. This new Diaper Drop is in partnership with The Center for Suicide Awareness, and will provide cloth diapers to the babies of local veterans in the Fox Valley experiencing diaper need (defined as the lack of a sufficient supply of diapers to keep an infant or toddler clean, dry and healthy).

The Center for Suicide Awareness works one on one with individuals, including veterans, whose lives are impacted by suicide.  They work with an average of 40 veterans a year who have young children and are experiencing the reality of having to choose between food & diapers. These veterans tend to be suffering from PTSD and other traumatic illnesses; a sad peril, despite the fact they chose to risk their lives and serve our country.  

Beyond Our Borders: La Mesa del Reino

At the end of March, cloth diapers headed south to Peru, a country near and dear to our hearts. It was a visit to an orphanage in Peru that ignited the passion in our founders to do something to help those who have to choose between food & diapers. Our newest Diaper Drop in Peru is at La Mesa del Reino. 

For our five special needs friends at La Mesa del Reino in Peru, the gift of cloth diapers means no more rags as diapers. No more choosing between food & diapers. This is a new Diaper Drop for us, made possible by you!  La Mesa del Reino is a Christian ministry working in one of the poorest areas just outside of Lima, Peru. Imagine the impact in quality of life for not only the recipient, but caregiver as well. 

Thank you for your continued support and prayers for the ministry of Jake's Diapers. The work we do would not be possible without you! We ARE solving diaper need, one cloth diaper at a time.

Thank you for your generous support! We are humbled by the outpouring of love shown to Jake's Diapers as we follow the path we are called to: helping babies, children, and adults in extreme poverty, one cloth diaper at a time. 

Addie is just one of the thousands of lives impacted by your support. Addie was abandoned, and then rescued, by one of our ministry partners, Sarah's Covenant Homes-India. There are about 200 special needs orphans in the care of Sarah's Covenant Homes. Approximately 170 of these children need cloth diapers and will be in diapers for a good portioin, if not their entire life.

Addie is 2, and has cerebral palsy. She can sit all by herself and is learning to crawl. She attends SCH's on-site preschool, and she especially loves sensory play, like playing in shaving cream! She lives in a family style environment, which is how Sarah's Covenant Homes cares for and raises the children. 

The use of cloth diapers allows Sarah's Covenant Homes to save significant amounts of money, which therefore allows them to more adequately meet the children's basic needs: food, clothing, shelter, medical care.