Carry the Future N.L. brings baby carriers to fleeing refugees

A group of women in St. John's want to lighten the load of some Syrian refugees by collecting and distributing baby carriers for families with young children.

"I was just [wearing a carrier] out of convenience and comfort, I can only imagine trying to carry all your possessions and your children and have to walk this long distance," said Maria Driscoll of Carry the Future Newfoundland and Labrador.

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Driscoll said the larger Carry the Future organization was started by a mom in California.

"She was really moved by all the images she was seeing on TV with the Syrian crisis and the refugees fleeing … and she just thought, as a mother, one way to help was to give them baby carriers."

Driscoll shared a video about the California woman to her Facebook page.

Facebook friend and colleague Krista Manning saw the post and quickly reached out to help.

"I said, 'I'm in. Let's do this and lets do this right,'" Manning told CBC.

"It was just something that you could actually do to help because you see the images and it's so sad and you just imagine if it was your family or someone you loved.

I think all human beings can relate to helping others.- Krista Manning, Carry the Future N.L.

"We felt this was something we could do to make a difference."

Manning said being the mother of a young child gave her an added perspective on what refugee families with small children are going through — but that isn't all.  

"I do think this is more of a human beings helping other human beings issue, as opposed to just being a mother and being able to relate," she said.

"I think all human beings can relate to helping others."

Carry the Future sends a team of volunteers overseas to properly fit refugees with carriers as they arrive in Greece by boat.

The group also hands out relief packages and protein bars to families.

"They have about five to 10 minutes to outfit as many refugees as they can and get the carriers on them and their babies secure in them," said Manning.

"Seeing the impact that has is incredible because you can see a sense of relief amongst many of the families coming off that ferry."

Manning and Driscoll have since partnered with more moms in St. John's and Labrador, including some in Driscoll's playgroup for new parents.

"I think the name Carry the Future is about carrying the next generation and hoping they will be able to experience something better than what their parents are experiencing," Driscoll said.

"Carry the Future N.L. is just our local way of trying to help, and us expressing the same desire that we hope that all of our children have a safe and peaceful future."

For more information, visit the Carry the Future Newfoundland and Labrador Facebook page.