South Plains Church in Keswick, Va., was surrounded by clotheslines and baby caps flapping in the breeze on June 10. Inside the sanctuary, baby caps were used to create flower arrangements and colorful wreaths. The baby caps, all 1,866, were dedicated that day as part of the church’s mission commitment through the Houston-based Medical Benevolence Foundation, which partners with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
The caps are hand knit by church members.
As part of the worship service on June 10, members young and old held the long line of caps and joined in singing “Jesus Loves Me.” The church’s pastor, David K. Garth, pronounced the benediction in the churchyard.
These simple newborn caps offer lifesaving warmth to infants born in MBF hospitals in developing countries such as Malawi and Zambia, where infant mortality rates are as high as 182 deaths per 1000 live births, compared with 6 deaths per 1000 live births in the United States (source: UNICEF). The caps directly impact these staggering statistics by decreasing the incidence of death from hypothermia in mission hospitals lacking heat. Two years ago South Plains expanded its work on behalf of the patients served in MBF hospitals and clinics, adding small stuffed bears, infant hospital gowns, and rolled bandages, all made from bed linens. Along with the caps, South Plains sent 273 stuffed bears and 23 infant gowns this year.
South Plains is an active, historic church founded in 1819 with a current membership of 130. The baby cap project, now in its sixth year, has extended beyond South Plains to include participation by friends of the church across Virginia and beyond.
Patricia Valentine, an elder at South Plains, initiated the congregation’s baby cap effort and has watched it expand each year. Commenting to a local television reporter at the dedication, Mrs. Valentine offered this summation of the congregation’s work: “We are knitting to save lives.”
