ABANDONED BABIES
HELP NEEDED
CHILDREN’S HOMES NEED SUPPLIES
HOMES for abandoned babies and children are running low on supplies they need to keep going, and are appealing for help.
Babies and children find themselves in these homes through the intervention of social workers, the police or hospitals, who contact the homes when a baby or child needs temporary shelter. These homes also offer anonymous alternatives for women who cannot care for their newborns. There have been a spate of cases where newborns have been dumped in toilets or bins. On Tuesday, RescueCare was called out to Glenwood, where the body of a newborn baby boy was found in a black bag.
The founder of Baby Home Durban North, Jo Teunissen, said: “Durban people are wonderful when there is a crisis. Everyone rallies and gets on board. However, it’s the monthly contributions that make us sustainable and help the most.”
They sometimes run low on food, medicines and cleaning supplies. At present she cares for children between the ages of nine days and five years old.
Terri Wentzel, the chairperson of the Baby House Westville, said they are currently caring for nine babies.
Five of the babies are eating solids and, although they try cook for them as often as they can, sometimes they cannot and often rely on baby food.
“Through the grace of God and our community, we manage, and because it is about babies, people respond well,” Wentzel said.
They accept help in any form – money or products. “We need everything. All baby-related products are needed all the time and we also need to pay for water and electricity. So any help we can get is always greatly appreciated,” she said.
She said the babies in their care also need to grow up loved and wanted. “Most baby homes rely on some help from volunteers, even just to hold the babies,” Wentzel explained.
She said some of the babies in their care were waiting to be reunited with their mothers or extended family, while others were waiting to be adopted, which usually took longer.
The founder of Isiaiah54 on the Bluff, Glynnis Dauth, said they provide newborns of teenagers a temporary place of safety. The children who come into their care often arrive with just the clothes they are wearing.
“This week we got two more children and they need clothes of different sizes. So we are trying to build emergency boxes with all the different sizes, which have clothing and underwear,” Dauth said.
She said they often struggled financially and survived on faith and donations. “We also help when a mother gives birth and she says she has nothing for the baby. Instead of her giving her baby up, we help by making a pack for them. Babies and children do not leave here with nothing,” she said.
Anyone wanting to help any of these baby homes can drop off their nonperishable donations at the Daily News offices at 18 Osborne Street, Greyville or make a cash donation to the Daily News Milk Fund account, and the money will be handed to the baby homes:
Name: Community Projects Account Number: 50840161249 Bank: FNB
Branch code: 221426 Reference: ND Baby Homes
The Baby Home Durban North Wish List:
Chicken nuggets, yoghurt (small 6 pack smooth), bananas, apples, pears, frozen chicken pieces, mince meat, viennas, fish fingers, frozen sausage rolls, dried fruit, juice concentrate, muffin mixture (bran/ savoury/vanilla), custard, juice bottles, nappies (sizes 2, 3, 4 or 5), Purity, Dettol or Savlon, latex gloves, Johnsons top to toe wash, air freshener, pedal bin bags, Sunlight liquid, Sta Soft, Domestos and liquid hand soap.
The Baby House Westville Wish List:
Lactogen 1, Infasoy (from 6 months), Nan Optipro 2, Nido, nappies, wet wipes, baby bath wash, bum cream, lotion, Milton, dishwashing liquid, floor cleaner, toilet cleaner, toilet paper, milk, bread, oil, rice, pasta, fruit juice, fresh veggies and tinned foods.
Isiaiah54 Wish List:
Nappies (sizes 2, 3, 4 and 5), wet wipes, potatoes, butternut, onions, tomatoes, carrots, macaroni, spaghetti, rice, mielie meal, mayonnaise, tomato sauce, peanut butter, coffee, tea, rooibos, sugar, juice, cereal, long-life milk, salt, spices, bread, butter, yoghurt, black bags, cleaning items, brooms and mops.