1.       How did you first learn about The Pit Board Charity?

We received a phone call from Patricia on April 1, 2008, stating that we had been chosen as a recipient in their Pit Board Charity line-up. We were the winning charity for Dale Jr’s finish in Martinsville. We are honored that we were even considered!

2.       How did you first become involved with abandoned newborns?

In 1996, while at home making dinner for my three children I was listening to the television news and a story came on about a newborn baby boy found dead and abandoned in a duffle bag along the freeway. I turned and looked at the television, and there was a woman from the Coroner’s office carrying a duffle bag with the word ‘life-saver’ printed on the outside of it. The image stopped my heart… my mind could only imagine the face of this tiny little being that was thrown-away.  I made a commitment to that child then and there to care for him in a way that gave him value, dignity and honor… to bury him as if he were my own… and to give him a name instead of the case number that had been assigned to him.

In the last 12 years, we have buried the bodies of 81 children from Southern California and one adult man who was abandoned at birth and found alive as a newborn. He was 66 years old when he died and the Coroner’s office called me to share this man’s story with me. As he grew up they discovered that he had brain damage, the Doctors thought that it was probably from hitting his head as he was thrown into the dumpster as a newborn. This man spent most of his life in an institution known only as “John Doe, Jr.”, and that there was no one to care for his body! I went to the Coroner’s office with a casket and buried this precious man in the Garden of Angels. All of his life he had been John Doe, Jr., now he has a name… Grandpa John… and he has a family… all of the children in the garden and those of us who surround him with love. Everyone deserves to have a name… and they deserve to leave their mark upon this world.

 

3.       Explain the Safe Arms for Newborns Program.

The Safe Arms for Newborns program was born in the Garden of Angels cemetery. It was created as a legacy to the children who lost their lives to this tragedy.  As we had more and more children to bury, I knew that we as a people needed to do whatever we could to reach these desperate moms before they gave birth. To give them a “safe place” to take their baby to instead of a trashcan or dumpster. The hospitals and fire stations made perfect sense, so I approached my State Senator Jim Brulte and asked him to help create “safe surrender” sites for the babies and their parent.  The Safe Surrender or Safe Haven law has become a law in ALL fifty states now. Each state has a little bit different verbiage, but for California, it allows a distressed parent who is unable or unwilling to care for an infant to legally, confidentially and “safely” surrender their newborn baby with a hospital or fire station employee. This law works… just in the state of California alone there have been 241 babies safely surrendered since the law passed in 2001. The challenge that everyone faces in this issue, is keeping the word out there, educating students and making everyone aware that these laws exist… because it saves lives and it does give hope!

4.       Tell us about the cemetery that was named the Garden of Angels.

The cemetery is located in Desert Lawn Cemetery in Calimesa, California. The children rest under a large tree next to a beautiful lake with flowers and rose bushes en-circling them.  We have also started a memorial walkway to surround the children.  This walkway is made of bricks that are placed there in honor or memory of someone. It is a beautiful way to be a permanent part of the ‘gift of love’ that we give the children.

5.       Can you tell us a bit about the Garden of Angels non profit organization?

We work passionately to prevent the tragedy of newborn abandonment through public speaking, awareness and education. I (Debi) volunteer my time to this cause; we have one paid employee who works 25 hours a week, many volunteers and a board of directors. We are all about children and education and prevention. We have worked to bring awareness of ‘newborn abandonment’ to people around the world. Every state in our nation now has a ‘safe surrender/safe haven’ law.

6.       How are the plans for Garden of Angels’ Car Show on July 28th coming along? Can you tell us a bit about the event?

They are going fantastic!  It is the Garden of Angels Charity Car Show and proceeds benefit the “Safe Surrender for Newborns” education program. It will be held Sunday July 27, 2008 from 9am – 2pm at the Yucaipa Regional Park in Yucaipa, California. It is open to all classes and is supported by Inland Empire Car Club Council. For more information you may call Gary @ (951)681-4605. Last year we had approximately 250 cars and we are hoping for 500 this year (you never know)!

7.       What is your most memorable moment working for the Garden of Angels?

I have been encouraged by many to write a book about the experiences that I’ve had in this mission of the heart and I believe that day is coming. I have had twelve years of heart-touching and heart-wrenching moments. I think the thing that I’ve learned to believe is that we are all connected… that there is unbelievable kindness in each one of us… no matter what our past holds… we hold the key to our future in the choices that we make from this moment on. I’ve also learned that love, compassion and forgiveness can be all one soul needs to move forward. The children in the Garden have taught me all of these.