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“And we push” in Haitian Creole.

…to the building’s completion!

Director Ninotte Lubin and the Board have been busy with building project punch lists, solar wattage, packing suitcases with birth supplies to send with the contractor who will soon go to Haiti for the final inspection. Yes we are that close…just a bit more pushing and this baby will be born from a labor of love! We are told that other projects have come to a stand still during this difficult time in Haiti because they relied more on imported materials and volunteer labor instead of local paid labor. They also did not have Director Lubin managing the project with her finely tuned skills, focus on success, and a drive to make her people’s lives better that comes straight from her heart.

Soon we will be planning the grand opening! We will ask you all, wherever you are, to celebrate with us so please watch for a date and time with a Zoom link. In the meantime, please see what your contributions have built.

For more photos and a report on the progress of construction, please visit the website:

Supporting Haiti’s Families

If you’ve been following along then you are aware that we have had some cost overruns, like projects are want to do even without the challenges of a country with the turmoil Haiti is facing. We would like to thank the following year end donors who generously answered the Stand with Grace call in the last update:

Please add your name to this list:

We are excited to formally announce that Every Mother Counts, has invested in Grace and granted $25,000 to be used for general operating expenses related to staff and supplies. Every Mother Counts (EMC) is based in New York and, “envisions a world where all women have the opportunity to enter motherhood and not only survive, but thrive”. They are a global organization that focuses on community based programs that provide safe, equitable care. Grace Community Birth Center is a natural fit with the work that EMC supports, and we anticipate future opportunities for partnership.

Fast with Ninotte

Board Member, Kate Mazzara, had the clever idea that we could show our support for Grace Community Birth Center by fasting and contributing the money saved. The tumult in Haiti has meant that Ninotte Lubin, the construction workers, the newly hired staff, the entire Grand Bassan community is not regularly eating three meals a day. The many supporters of Grace could consciously commit to fasting and donating monies saved to support building cost over runs and purchasing of birth supplies.

Fast with Ninotte Suggested Donations

Please consider making your donation monthly. Monthly donations create the needed stability for on-going birth center operations - staff salaries, birth supplies and equipment, finishing touches to the building and grounds. We are so excited to be at this place where we need to transition to monthly operating costs. Even small monthly donations go a long way!

BOD Updates

The work hasn’t all been about the building. Members of the board have been working overtime to assist Ninotte with acquisition of supplies as we near opening day. We hired a talented midwife to assist Ninotte with staff training and the clinical operations committee has reported successful outcomes. We are beyond excited to be this close to opening the birth center.

It’s official, the IRS approved our application to become a 501(c)3. The BOD wishes to thank Craig Mulder for many hours of shepherding our application through the IRS and now working to transition us from being under the care of the Bay Eye Charitable Foundation.

We continue to look beyond the opening of the birth center and hope to recruit additional talent to the board. We are especially interested in a board member who has a fund raising background. If you have this or other skills to share with the GCBC board please email Lynette Biery at lynette.biery@gmail.com.

If you would like to donate by check, please make it out to ‘Bay Eye Charitable Foundation’ with a note that it is intended for Grace Community Birth Center and mail it to Grace Community Birth Center, 530 W. 11th Street, Traverse City, Michigan 49684.

As always, you can find more updates by visiting our website.