BEAU’S BUNDLES

When our paths crossed in 2019, we knew we wanted to join an amazing couple - Katie & Brian Benden, in honoring their son, Beau. Their precious son was stillborn and they have worked tirelessly to honor him by helping others. When the Bendens learned there were babies in Africa using rags and plastic bags as diapers, they created Beau’s Bundles to help. 

Katie designed a great bag, which were filled by family, friends, co-workers, and others, with cloth diapers, plastic pants, socks, light blankets, and onesies. Saint Casimir’s Catholic School in Baltimore, Maryland, collected items to fill the bags, as part of their outstanding community outreach. Kim Dewalt asked friends to fill bags in lieu of gifts for her 50th birthday. Members of the Prayer Shawl Ministry of Sacred Heart Parish in Glyndon, Maryland: Marylee McCusker, Lee Ann Walsh (and their family and friends) made over 300 knitted /crocheted “comfort dolls” to include in the bags.

Our team of 17 volunteers traveled to Africa in 2019 with over 150 Beau’s Bundles and more than 300 mini bundles. We delivered them plus other supplies to Mount Meru Hospital and Nungwi Village Hospital where babies are born daily into extreme poverty. We ventured into vulnerable areas to hand out bags to mothers with babies. At Mama Jane’s Orphanage, we dedicated a nursery in Beau’s honor and stocked it with supplies, including Beau’s Bundles.

In July 2019, Scott’s cousin, Ben Solomon, held a spaghetti dinner as part of his Eagle Scout Project. He collected supplies for moms and babies to fill Beau’s Bundles which were donate to Birthright Pregnancy Center of Bel Air. The Bendens’ friends and family joined in filling the bundles and helped SWLF raise funds with a raffle and auction. Funds were used to purchase a “Caring Cradle” for stillborn babies in Beau’s memory, presented by Katie, Brian, and their son, Braxton, to Harbor Hospital in March 2020.

In May/June 2023, we distributed approximately 350 Beau’s Bundles to hospitals and villages in Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Zambia. Many of the items were purchased through the Scott’s Legacy Amazon Wish List.

If you wish to help Beau’s Bundles directly, reach out to Katie by email. We know both Beau and Scott are smiling down on this project which has brought their sweet families together.