Bonnie ZoBell Jensen and her family will be arriving in the Dominican Republic on February 19th.  Bonnie's passion is to help new moms!

Here is her message:

In a couple weeks, my family and I are going to Dominican to holiday, but also to do some humanitarian work. Everyone has their passions of where they want to put their support to, and helping babies is one of my passions.

I know times are tough right now for so many with all the inflations and shrinkations. However, I’m looking for money donations so when I’m in the Dominican we can buy diapers, formula, and baby Tylenol to give away, but also to help stock the shelves in the Dominican Starfish Distribution Centre so there can be supplies for infants as the need arises.

All donations are eligible for a charitable tax receipt.

My goal is to raise $1000+ in the next 2-4 weeks, (Two weeks before we fly out and the two weeks we will be in Dominican) to buy these supplies in Dominican. If 50 people donate $20 each I will reach my goal!

In the Dominican the babies are potty trained quickly, but before this can happen they rely on 1 diaper a day for their babies. They will often line their diapers with old rags to catch the poop and then throw away the rag. You might be thinking, Why don’t they use cloth diapers? Unfortunately they don’t have access to enough clean water to keep cloth diapers clean and hygienic.

Mothers of new babies have to return to work soon after having their babies. Without formula they feed their babies weak coffee or sugar water.

This was a message from Kate Bateman last month who is the director of the Youth Upliftment School in the Dominican Republic.  

"Grateful for all of you who donated. One of the ways your donation helps, is to provide baby formulas to babies in need.
In crisis, many mothers who can’t breastfeed and can not afford formula turn to feeding their babies tea and warm sugared water. I witnessed this on one of my very first trips to the DR, when I was living with a local family. The 17 day old baby was being fed boiled water with cloves and other spices, and sugar. It’s not because the mother thought this was better for the baby, it’s because that’s all she had access too!
These formulas are life saving. We have 15 babies in need who have received. I have told all of the mothers ( and a few guardians), to not cut the quantity of the formula. Many do that to make it last longer. When the can is finished, to return it to me and we will provide another."

Please if you’re able can you please donate? Every penny donated to the Dominican Starfish Foundation goes to the cause, none is saved for administration fees.

When Bonnie and Brandon and family are here later this month, they will be purchasing and delivering these items to families in need.  Thanks for your support!!