Little Angels of Beatrice to hold event Saturday to raise money for Babyland

BEATRICE - The Little Angels of Beatrice are ready for their Saturday event for Babyland in Evergreen Home Cemetery.

“We are raising money to build a memorial here at the Evergreen cemetery,” Little Angels founder Robin Butler said.

Babyland is a section of Evergreen where loved ones can visit their relatives that died as infants. Robin Butler is the founder of Little Angels and she explained her first encounter with Babyland.

"It felt sad. I also have a little angel,” Butler said. “I went home that day and I knew something and to be done.”

She and other members of Little Angels reached out to cemetery sexton Chad Cleveland.

“I was a little overwhelmed at first, but with them [Little Angels] really getting the ball rolling, that helped me out,” Cleveland said. “The board has been on board all the way.”

Like Butler, Kendra Sand has a little angel of her own and her family purchased a bench that will face a statue. Sand is happy about the change coming to the cemetery because she said the funeral was loud, as Babyland sits parallel to highway 136.

“To hear that this place is going to become something beautiful and something more enjoyable to come visit our daughter, and for future parents to bury their little ones, it’s a great cause,” Sand said.

Since work began, Little Angels has raised about $20,000. Butler said the community support has been crucial.

“They have really stepped up and supported this project,” Butler said. “We couldn’t be more grateful.”

The funding won’t stop there; this Saturday, Little Angels is holding an event at Chautauqua Park. It will include car shows, food trucks, vendors, and much more, including a 5K set up by Kendra Sand.

“The 5K has had great turnout,” Sand said. “We’re expecting about 60 runners/walkers who are going to be participating, and we have open registration day of.”

Events like Saturday go a long way in achieving the goals Little Angels has set.“We’re not just raising funds to build a memorial,” Butler said. “We want to help families who can’t afford a grave or a headstone and possibly outside of Beatrice someday.”