An idea that comes to the Kenai from Finland via Carrie Hanson, president of Last Frontier Freethinkers is gaining traction, “Last Frontier Freethinkers has chosen the Baby Box Campaign for our first charitable endeavor due the success in Finland in reducing infant mortality. Finland gives a baby box to every mother with child regardless of need and is said to be the best country in the world to be a mother,” said Hanson. The box is made of sturdy cardboard that is big enough for a baby to safely sleep in for nine months to a year and comes with a soft mattress inside and can include everything the baby needs for its first year of life according to Hanson. “What is included in the box is basically the icing on the cake what reduces infant mortality is that it provides a safe place for the baby to sleep where they won’t fall or risk being rolled on when sleeping with the parent. The box protects the baby,” she said.

Hanson’s research shows that approximately 700 babies are born on the Peninsula each year with about 140 of those considered at risk, from low-income, unwed and teen mothers, “Our goal is purchase 140 baby boxes to meet that local need and distribute them through local health care clinics that can also provide pre-natal care for the mothers. The basic box with mattress and sheet is about $30.00 so we are raising $4,200 to procure the boxes to meet the local need and then continue to fund raise to fill the boxes with the icing on the cake so to speak of items that the mother can use and appreciate. We want to collaborate with the community to fill the boxes and provide pre & postnatal care,” she said. The Last Frontier Freethinkers is a fairly new group in the community affiliated with the American Humanist Assoc., “We believe that scientific based decision making is best when it comes to moral and socio-economic decisions. We are a small group that gets together and has philosophical discussions and do charitable work and this is our first project.” You can learn more by emailing info@lastfrontierfreethinkers.org