The Family
In February 2016, Chris and Rebecca Harpring had the first of two miscarriages. Because life begins at conception, they wanted to give a proper burial to their babies. They were able to do so at their parish cemetery on the grave site of Chris’ grandparents. Knowing that their babies had a final resting place brought them comfort, as well as allowed their other children to have a physical reminder that they do have two more siblings.
A Need Was Seen
Because Rebecca had a background as a nurse, a pregnancy resource center director, and as a Creighton Model FertilityCare Practitioner, they were open with others about their loss and the burial of their babies. So many people expressed how they wished they would have known they could have a burial or that they did not have a place to bury. As the Harprings reflected on these conversations, they decided they wanted to find a way to bring good for others out of their own loss.
The Little Souls Cemetery and Miscarriage Supply Totes
Harpring children watching the groundbreaking of the Little Souls Cemetery
In 2018, The Harprings approached their parish priest and with his permission were able to start the Little Souls Cemetery for miscarried babies in their parish cemetery. The Little Souls Cemetery construction became a family affair with even the Harpring children being involved.
During the construction of the cemetery, the Harprings wrote down everything they did and learned in the process in hopes that it would someday help another cemetery. After the completion of the cemetery, their hopes bore fruit as people in other towns, parishes and states started inquiring about how to construct a Little Souls Cemetery in their cemeteries.
The Harprings also found that, like themselves, many women had a hard time finding appropriate supplies to manage their miscarriage and appropriate burial vessels for the baby afterwards that were available the same day the family needed them. The only supplies available were via mail order and the Harprings didn’t have time to wait for that. Therefore, Rebecca went from store to store trying to find a burial vessel for her baby.
The Harprings knew that women should not have to go through what they did in order to care for their babies remains. Therefore, in 2018, Rebecca also started developing the first Miscarriage Supply Tote to make miscarriage delivery and burial supplies available the same day and at a location near the women who needed them. The tote contained various burial vessels, vessel covers, miscarriage aid kits and various other items that a family might need in the moment of a miscarriage. The first Miscarriage Supply Tote was implemented at Gilliland Howe Funeral Home in June 2019.
The implementation of the first Miscarriage Supply Tote resulted in other facilities also requesting them. Through these conversations and prayer, the Harprings felt called to do more.
A Ministry is Born
In July 2022, Rebecca and her family decided not to renew her Creighton Model FertilityCare Practitioner certification so that she and the family could work together to help establish Little Souls Cemeteries across the nation, get miscarriage supply totes in as many facilities in the United States as possible, create a nationwide listing of cemeteries with dedicated areas for miscarriages, provide memorial ornaments for families who lost a baby to miscarriage, and become a resource for churches and facilities.
Covenant Resources Miscarriage Ministry
As more people heard about what the Harprings were doing, the Harprings started receiving requests that they become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. So, the Harprings started that process and on May 1, 2023, Covenant Resources Miscarriage Ministry was officially incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The hope is that this ministry will bring comfort and support to families during their times of loss, as well as provide resources to the medical and funeral facilities and churches who assist those families in their sorrow.
Become Part of Our Story
This ministry would not exist without the support and suggestions of the families and communities we serve. If you know of resources or other information that should be added to our website, please let us know. If you are able to partner with us financially, your generosity will enable us to continue to provide comfort and resources to so many families. May God bless you for being a part of our story!