Lilly Pad Project
Local Charity Offers Comfort to Families of Stillborn and Miscarried Babies
Lilly Pad Proj- ect, a local charity co-founded by Natalie Olsen and Chelsea Rowley, seeks to offer comfort to families of stillborn and miscar- ried babies through volunteer-donated bereavement kits.
Each kit contains keepsake items for both the mother and the lost child, includ- ing a stuffed animal, blanket, and bracelet. These items may seem small, but they offer much-needed comfort to grieving families who want something to help them remem- ber their babies.
The Lilly Pad Project has donated more than 450 bereavement boxes to local hospitals. All deliveries are met with great appreciation and highlight a need for such kits in hospitals throughout the state. According to the Utah Department of Health, approximately 275 still- births occur every year in Utah alone.
The goal of The Lilly Pad Project is to create enough bereavement kits to give out to every single family affected by this tragedy. In order to do that, Row- ley stated, they need volunteers. The orga- nization is completely volunteer-based, which means all items for the kits are donated by members of the com- munity. Donations of time, money and skills are always needed and appreciated.
Rowley never expect- ed to become involved in an organization like The Lilly Pad Project, but the opportunity seemed to fall into her lap and she willingly accepted it. She was born in Chesterfield, Va. and moved to Utah to go to BYU. She got her degree in teaching, and that’s how she met her husband, Rhett, who was also in the teaching program. Rowley retired from teaching when she be- gan having kids so she could stay home with them. The Rowley family has four energetic boys who keep them busy, so becoming involved in a time-consuming charity was never on Rowley’s “to-do” list. That all changed when she had a strong feeling one day to turn her wedding dress into “angel gowns” for still- born and miscarried babies. She asked a local
girl in town to help her, then posted the finished dresses on Facebook. She hoped to find someone who had a stillborn baby so she could donate the dresses in honor of their child.
That’s how she first came in contact with Olsen, who knew firsthand about the pain that comes with the loss of a child. Olsen had a stillborn baby girl named Lily.
After her sister-in-law also had a stillborn baby, Olsen knew she had to do something to help others in similar situations.
As the owner of Sew What, Olsen is a professional seamstress and knows how to cre- ate angel gowns. But she didn’t know how to create full bereavement kits, contact hospitals, get donations, or take care of all the other requirements involved
with operating a chari- table organization.
In response to Ol- sen’s concerns, Row- ley laughingly said, “Well, I’m a talker, so let me help you with that!” The two jumped wholeheartedly into The Lilly Pad Project. They enlisted help from members of the community and experi- enced plenty of mira- cles along the way. The
generous Crane fam- ily donated free legal services and thousands of blankets collected through the efforts of their son, Benjamin Crane’s, Eagle Scout Project.
The Lilly Pad Project also received large do- nations from generous donors. Those dona- tions came right when they were needed most, when Rowley was having doubts about whether the organiza- tion had the resources necessary to continue. Rowley also noted that most of the day-to-day financial support the organization receives comes through small donations given loving- ly by members of the community.
The journey has been far from easy. Rowley recounts that she had no experience in non-profits when she began this ven- ture and she often felt overwhelmed. But it was during her lowest times that small mira- cles happened and gave her the strength she needed to continue.
When asked how The Lilly Pad Proj- ect has changed her personally, Rowley responded, “I feel like I see people more. I don’t know how to explain that, but I didn’t realize before to recruit more help. how common pregnan- Rowley is an inspira- cy loss was. I feel like tion to members of her as women, we’ve all community who have experienced it in some watched her grow and form – either directly overcome obstacles. or indirectly. I feel When she co-founded like this is something I the organization, Row- can do to say ‘you are ley didn’t even know loved. You’re not alone. how to sew.
You were thought of She overcame that before this happened personal obstacle by and we know what watching online videos you’re going through.’” and practicing her
Rowley also said that sewing skills on angel her involvement in dresses. Now, she The Lilly Pad Project creates her own videos has changed her life showing others how because she’s had to to sew clothing items rely more on God to for the charity. Her help her know what perseverance and deter- to do next, how to get mination illustrate how the word out about the anyone can become organization, and how involved and make a difference in their community, regardless of experience.
The Lilly Pad Project is always welcoming donations of time, money and materials. Since the organization is completely volun- teer-based, 100 percent of the proceeds go toward bereavement kits and supplies.
Interested individuals can donate thread, rib- bons, needles, material (especially flannel), and any other sewing supplies by delivering them to Rowley’s home in Santaquin.
Currently, the orga- nization does not need more wedding dresses, but they do need peo- ple who can turn wed- ding dresses into angel gowns. Rowley rec- ommends contacting her through The Lilly Pad Project’s Facebook page or by texting her at 801-754-1451 to orga- nize deliveries. She also allows people to pick up supplies from her house and take them home to sew dresses, booties, headbands and hats.
Those who would like to donate money can do so through Ven- mo. The organization’s Venmo account is @ lillypadproject.