Q&A With Ashley Opliger

Bridget’s Cradles is a faith-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Kechi, just a few minutes north of Wichita. It was founded after the birth of Matt and Ashley Opliger's daughter, Bridget Faith. She was stillborn at 24 weeks in October of 2014 at Wesley Medical Center. Due to complications in Ashley's pregnancy and a poor prognosis given to them by doctors, Bridget's grandma, Teresa Golik of Andover, knit a special cradle for her. When Bridget was born, Matt and Ashley and their families held her in the cradle, loving on her and making cherished memories with her. From their heartache, a ministry was born.

Q. What is the mission of Bridget’s Cradles?

A. We desire to provide comfort, hope and healing to every family who experiences the heartbreaking loss of a baby. Unfortunately, one in four pregnancies ends in miscarriage or stillbirth. Although this is a tragically common experience, parents often feel alone in their grief. Bridget’s Cradles exists to comfort grieving families, provide them with support, and connect them to a loving community to walk their healing journey together.

Q. What does your organization do?

A. Our primary ministry is donating small knit and crocheted cradles to hospitals across the country for grieving families to have a dignified and functional way to hold their babies born in the second trimester of pregnancy. We are currently donating our cradles to over 1,300 hospitals in all 50 states. We also host Christ-centered support groups in-person and online, produce a podcast called Cradled in Hope which releases hope-filled episodes twice a month, and organize various remembrance events to honor the lives of babies who have gone to heaven. To listen go to bridgetscradles.com/podcast.

“Bereaved families do not have to grieve their babies without hope. Because of Jesus, we have the opportunity to spend eternity with them in heaven. Our role is to point grieving parents to the one who gives them that blessed hope!” — Executive director Ashley Opliger

Q. What programs are offered for local bereaved families?

A. We host monthly in-person support groups for grieving moms, as well as quarterly craft nights. We also orchestrate special events for holidays such as Mother’s Day and Christmas. Finally, we host an annual candlelight vigil called Wave of Light on October 15, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. Bereaved families are encouraged to invite their friends and family members.

Q. How can we support Bridget’s Cradles?

A. Bridget’s Cradles is 100 percent run on donations and volunteers. We are currently in need of the following types of volunteers: administrative, operations, sewing, knitting and crocheting. If interested, please email us at volunteer@bridgetscradles.com. You can also attend our monthly volunteer work nights at our headquarters in Kechi. For more information, visit bridgetscradles.com/volunteer. To support Bridget’s Cradles financially, you can donate online at bridgetscradles.com/donate or mail a check to our address below.



Wave of Light: Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day

Next month on October 15, bereaved parents and their friends and family are invited to attend Bridget’s Cradles’ annual community candlelight vigil, which will be held at Beech Lake. The event will feature a water lantern release and light display of 50,000 pink, blue, and white lights in remembrance of babies in heaven. For event details, including registration and fundraising information, go to bridgetscradles.com/waveoflight.