Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep: A wonderful charity 9-15-2007

As you many of you know, Wicker By Design strives to be a good citizen in relationship to the suppliers of our photo props in the Philippines.  We tithe 10% of our profits to poverty relief and economic development in the Philippines and advocate for greater charitable giving for the relief of poverty, hunger and disease in the world's poorest countries. 

We also like to highlight charitable activities of others in the portrait photography industry.  We have been particularly taken by the work of Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep (NILMDTS).  Founded by Sandy Puc and Cheryl Haggard, the organization provides portrait photographers on call to photograph newborns who are critically ill in a hospital or hospice situation.  NILMDTS is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization and can always use donations to keep the program growing and support the photographers who donate their  time.  With NILMDTS's permission, I have taken more information from their web site and present it below:

Pregnancy and birth are miraculous journeys.  This amazing time of life is full of mystery, anticipation, joy, hope, and wonder. Feeling the powerful energy of birth and new life, watching as a new family is born unto each other. These things humble and amaze. These are the things that we celebrate when a baby is born.

But there is another aspect of pregnancy and birth. There is an unexpected place in this journey where some families may find themselves. When a baby dies, a world is turned upside down. There is confusion, sadness, fear, and uncertainty that cannot be explained. There is sorrow where there should have been joy. During this time, it might be impossible for families to know what they might need in order to heal in the future.

This is the place where the Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation gently provides a helping hand and a healing heart.  For families overcome by grief and pain, the idea of photographing their baby may not immediately occur to them. Offering gentle and beautiful photography services in a compassionate and sensitive manner is the heart of this organization. The soft, gentle heirloom photographs of these beautiful babies are an important part of the healing process. They allow families to honor and cherish their babies, and share the spirits of their lives.

The Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation is there for parents and families to help aid them in their Healing, bring Hope to their future and Honor their child.  It is through Remembrance that a family can begin to heal.

The Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation (NILMDTS) administers a network of nearly 3,000 volunteer professional photographers in the United States and eight International countries. At a family's request, a NILMDTS Affiliated Photographer will come to your hospital or hospice location and conduct a sensitive and private portrait session. The portraits are then professionally retouched and presented to the families on an archival DVD or CD that can be used to print portraits of their cherished baby.

Our entire network of affiliated professional photographers graciously donate their time and talents to our families and we are proud to be able to offer our services at no cost.

Here is an interesting fact: Did you know that the Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Web Site has approximately 2,000 unique visitors EACH DAY who browse - on average - 16 pages. That's approximately 60,000 VISITORS each month.  Just imagine if each visitor would donate $1.