Got an old baby carrier? Here is how you can help save a life with it

An American mom saw Syrian refugees struggling to carry their babies, so she did something amazing.

When California mum Cristal Logothetis was watching the news, night after night she was moved to tears by the heartbreaking situation happening on the beaches of Greece. Syrian refugees arriving by the boatload — quite literally. And to Logothetis, it was the viral picture of the young Syrian boy who drowned that made her wow to do something, anything she could, to help. "When I saw that picture, I didn't just see a little boy face-down on the sand," Logothetis told the Today show. "I saw what could have been my son." The California mum explains how she was overwhelmed by emotions. "Which makes it so easy to feel paralyzed, as in; what can I possibly do in the face of so much tragedy?" The answer: "SO much, we can do SO much," according Logothetis. To her, it broke her heart to see all the refugee families arriving on the shores of Greece with young babies and infants in their arms. "If you watch the news footage, you may notice something: There are lots of Syrian moms, dads, and caregivers with babies." Babies too young to walk. Babies that must be carried...and carried. Despite cold and exhaustion. "When they reach Greece, remember that's only the first part of their journey," says Logothetis. "Then they face hundreds of miles of walking to reach their next destination." The images flashing across the screen in her own safe, warm and comfortable home, didn't just move the young mum emotionally. She was moved to do something. "It compelled me into action." And action is what she took.

On her own initiative, Logothetis started to collect baby carriers to deliver to the Syrian families arriving in Greece with babies and young children. "You know, those things we Americans like to use for convenience, to keep our hands free or bonding with our babies, often referring to the practice as baby-wearing," she explains.

At first, she didn't think her plans would go very far. But she was wrong. So. Very. Wrong. Upon telling people of her plans, many more wanted to help. "In fact, they were honored to do so, with many attaching notes of encouragement and love to the donated carriers," says Logothetis. In addition to receiving donated carriers, Logothetis collected tens of thousands of dollars to purchase them. After Logothetis had collected enough carriers to make a difference, she and 10 other moms headed to Greece. There, she and her fellow mum helpers met families coming off boats and taught the moms and dads how to use the donated carriers. To say they were met with gratitude, would be an understatement, Logothetis explains. "Perhaps nearly as significant to the refugee families as the actual physical help, is the simple knowledge that people care." All they're trying to do is get to a better place and protect their family," Logothetis said of the families she met. "Not only do they have a problem solved for them by receiving a carrier, but they realize that people care about them, that people want to help." There is always an opportunity to help, she urges. "If everybody does something, no matter how small or big, there will always be a positive impact on this planet. It's easy to feel overwhelmed in moments of crisis. Sometimes, though, it's just a matter of looking in the right place." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzeuO3EB1iI If YOU are interested in helping supply carriers for Syrian refugee families, you can visit the Carry the Future Facebook page to learn more about where to send your gently used carrier (or where to donate money).