Brynn writes:
Last week I wrote about a program Kitsap County
Coroner Greg Sandstrom is implementing locally that gives cribs to
families in need of a safe place for their baby to sleep. Sandstrom
is doing this as part of a national Cribs for Kids program that
works with law enforcement and first responders to reduce the
number of infant deaths from suffocation or other, unexplained
reasons.So far Sandstrom is the only coroner in the Northwest to
join the program.My story ran online July 31 and in the Aug. 1
print edition of the Kitsap Sun. At the time it was published,
Sandstrom had five portable Graco Pack ‘n Play cribs to give to
parents, or caregivers, who called and requested them.By 2:20 p.m.
on Aug. 1 I received this email from Sandstrom:
Just as a follow-up, I had had several requests come in for the cribs, so I need to order more in a hurry! (Not a bad problem to have.) I also just found out that the headquarters for the “Cribs for Kids” Program will send me 100 cribs for $2,500.00, because of a matching grant they have. I didn’t know it would be too late to put that information out to your subscribers or not, but that comes to just $25.00 a crib! It would be wonderful to provide that information to someone wanting to donate to this life saving need.
I assumed the story would appeal to parents who want their baby
to have a safe place to sleep, but I didn’t think Sandstrom would
see the cribs snatched up so fast. Sandstrom just started this
program, so he hasn’t yet had a chance to appeal to the community
to help raise the money needed to buy more cribs. He makes sure
before buying them that they are safe and not on any recall lists.
Sandstrom also provides educational information with the crib
reminding parents about safe sleep environments for children,
including placing infants and babies on their backs to sleep in a
crib that hasn’t nothing else in it — no blankets, no stuffed
animals, no toys, etc.
If you’re interested in donating money to help Sandstrom meet the
$2,500 needed to buy 100 cribs from the national program, contact
Sandstrom’s office at 360-337-7077.
