A mother helping others

Karyce Wolfe was looking for potential missionary work when she came across a website that sparked her interest. It was MamaBaby Haiti, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health and well-being of mothers and babies in Haiti.

The organization was founded by a group of midwives and naturopathic doctors who serve women and families out of a free birthing center and clinic. It provides prenatal, birth, postpartum and pediatric care.

“Our mission is to lower the maternal, fetal and neonatal mortality rate in Haiti,” the website states.

Wolfe, a doula who lives in Washougal, said she is interested in any birth related organization, and this one tugged at her heart.

“I decided to contact them to see if I could go help,” she said.

She and a friend from Ocean Park, Wash., will leave for Haiti April 21 and return May 1. While they are there, the women will help the mothers and babies, assist the naturopaths and midwives in their work, and travel to nearby villages to distribute clean water tablets.

Wolfe, who is married and has a 1-year-old daughter, became a doula after the birth of her baby.

“I became very interested in it and was trained by my midwife,” she said.

Right now, Wolfe is raising money for the trip. She has an account set up at Key Bank under her name, with the words, “Mission trip to Haiti.”

She is also seeking donations for the organization, which can be given directly at www.mamababyhaiti.org.

“I am very excited about helping out,” Wolfe said. “Just knowing how giving this organization is. All of the donations go directly toward the center, and people have moved down there in order to keep it going. They are very much involved with the people in Haiti.”