LIMA, OH (WLIO) - Allen County Public Health received a donation to help reduce infant mortality.
Thanks to a contribution from the Lima Eagles 370 Charity Foundation, the Lima Exchange Club donated $2,000 to the health department. The donation will be used to purchase about 25 Pack 'n Play playpens and cribs. The health department receives a certain number of cribs from the state but often exceeds the allotted amount.
These cribs will be given to families in Allen County to help prevent tragic suffocation incidents that can occur when infants do not have a safe space to sleep.
Thanks to a contribution from the Lima Eagles 370 Charity Foundation, the Lima Exchange Club donated $2,000 to the health department.
"Our big mission at the Lima Exchange Club is child abuse prevention and helping children in the community. This allows for the mother to have a safe place for the baby to sleep instead of having them sleep with her. Some of the new mothers may not have a bed or a crib to put the child in, so they sleep with the child in the bed, which creates the potential for suffocation. These cribs allow them to have a safe place to put the child and follow the ABCs of Safe Sleep." said Greg Sowinksi, immediate past-president of the Lima Exchange Club.
"Families can receive one if they're expecting at least 32 weeks or more into the pregnancy, and then any family with an infant under 12 months old. We hope families will utilize it at home or for their childcare provider as a safe place to put their baby to sleep," said Sarah Misiakiewicz, health educator with the Allen County Public Health Department.
Allen County Public Health also thanked the Exchange Club for its generous donation.
