Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc.

Moses Baskets give at-risk
newborns a safe place to sleep

By Judy Bokorney
Web Site Editor 

Arcadia—Sister Ann De Nicolo shudders with alarm when clients come to her Catholic Charities program and tell her they do not have a proper place for their newborn to sleep. She fears the infant is in danger of an adult rollover death or suffocation while sleeping.

“Many of the newborns born in DeSoto County are born to migrant families who don’t have cribs,” said Sister De Nicolo, program director of Catholic Charities of DeSoto County. “Often more than one family will share a trailer to save on costs, but then several adults will sleep in one bedroom creating an unsafe place for a baby to sleep.”

There are no records as to how many infants die in DeSoto County from sleeping in the same bed as an adult, but Sister De Nicolo has heard the terrifying stories from her clients. “It is sad that babies have to die because of a lack of a safe place to sleep,” she said.

Since baby cribs are rarely donated to Catholic Charities, Sister De Nicolo was determined to find a solution. She came across a program operating in Collier County through the St. William Council of Catholic Women called Project Moses. The program recruited volunteers who created inexpensive bassinets for needy parents. The bassinets are simply made out of laundry baskets, a firm piece of foam, material and elastic.

Sister De Nicolo asked longtime Catholic Charities volunteer Shirley DeLongchamp of Lake Suzy if she would be interested in making the “Moses Baskets.”

“I’ve always loved to sew, so I knew this was something I could do for a great cause,” DeLongchamp said. She went to work and made 25 Moses Baskets in two weeks.

The Moses Baskets were given to the Healthy Start and Healthy Families agencies in DeSoto County for distribution to deserving parents of newborns. The baskets can also be obtained from Catholic Charities.

“It is so gratifying knowing that you are doing something to save children’s lives,” said DeLongchamp. She is now looking for other volunteers interested in learning how to make the Moses Baskets. Sister De Nicolo would like to recruit some of the migrant women too.

“I showed Shirley the basic basket and she took it to another level. She created her own version of the Moses Basket and they really are beautiful,” Sister De Nicolo said. “Any parent would be proud to have their baby sleep in these baskets.”

Sister De Nicolo is looking to expand the project because it puts words into action and protects newborns. “The cost of the materials can be raised through donations. All we need are some loving hands of volunteers to create the Moses Baskets,” she said.

Anyone interested in learning how to make the Moses Baskets, donate to the project, or receive a basket can contact Sister De Nicolo at Catholic Charities of DeSoto County.

Click here to contact Catholic Charities of DeSoto County.

Photo: Shirley DeLongchamp shows off one of the many Moses Baskets she has created for Catholic Charities of DeSoto County. The baskets are given to needy parents of newborns so they will have a safe place to sleep.