Bluff baby home provides love and care for 25 years

FOR more than two decades Shepherd’s Keep has made it their duty to provide a safe and loving home for abandoned and orphaned babies. February marks 25 years since the non-profit organisation, situated on The Bluff, was started by the late Colin Pratley, and his wife, Cheryl, and officially opened its doors in 1998.

Michelle Potgieter, their daughter and a director, said the organisation was started during the peak of the HIV/Aids epidemic to assist mothers who could not take care of their babies, however, it has since evolved over the years.

“My mother had decided to become a crisis care parent and would take in babies that needed shelter. However, as the need for care and a safe place for these babies grew, she knew that she had to do more. My mother said she was praying and that the Lord had shown her what she needed to do, which was to open a home. Soon after my parents opened the home, the babies started coming in. At first it was primarily babies that were abandoned or orphaned due to their mothers being sick, while some babies were born HIV positive,” she said.

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Potgieter said, however, over the years they received less calls for babies due to the epidemic but rather an increase in cases of abandonment.

“We started receiving calls for babies that were born of unwanted pregnancies or found abandoned.  We opened our doors and our arms to any baby that was in need. To date, we have had over 500 babies come to our home,” she said.

Potgieter said while some of the babies were reunited with families, others were adopted by families from various countries such Denmark, Holland, and Canada, to name a few places. She said the home takes in babies from newborn and that their aim was restoration.

“It is devastating when a baby comes in and you hear about the trauma they experienced in that short space of time. Many come in with their tiny fists clenched, crying non-stop and unsettled. Our job is to offer them peace, show them that they are safe and loved. We slowly, but surely, get them to uncurl those little fingers, smile and even laugh,” she said.

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Potgieter said, however, like many non-profit organisations, they faced financial difficulties.
She said the home currently cares for five babies, aged between three and 10 months, and requires four caregivers, two in the day, and two at night.

“It would not be possible for one caregiver to provide that extra care and individual attention that each of our babies need. We also believe that no baby should be left to cry, it would be insanely cruel to let a baby ‘cry themselves to sleep’. They have been through enough trauma.

“However, while we appreciate every donation we receive, we need someone or people to pledge towards these wonderful caregivers’ salaries or pay a salary, which would really help us. They have all been selected because of the positive impact they have on the babies. We would not be able to cope without them and the babies need them,” she said.

Potgieter said they also encouraged more people to volunteer.

“Anyone interested can contact us, and I will respond with necessary information. If you would like to assist the organisation or become a volunteer, contact Potgieter on 084 581 2453 or email info@shepherdskeep.org.za.

SHEPHERD’S KEEP WISHLIST

FORMULA and FOODS
Lactogen number 1 and 2
Infasoy number 1
Baby cereal
Flings
Boudoir biscuits/teething rusks
Purity all stages
Rooibos teabags
Brown sugar

BATHING and CHANGE TIMES
Nappies sizes 3, 4 and 5
Bennetts baby bum creme
Soft cloths
Wet wipes
Cot sheets and soft blankets
Baby and hand towels

MEDICINE
Calpol Syrup
Teething gel
Puma rub
Digital thermometers
Syringes 5ml

OTHER
Feeding bottles 250ml
Teats
Pacifiers
Bottle brushes
Milton steriliser tablets
Household cleaning detergents
teabags/coffee/sugar/milk
buckets/jugs with lids/baskets

DID YOU KNOW?

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