‘Empty Stroller Walk’ to raise awareness of infant mortality

A local organization is inviting the community to come out and push an empty stroller to draw attention to Infant Mortality Awareness Month.

Heart of Georgia Healthy Start Coalition will host its Empty Stroller Walk at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 8, to bring community members together to remember babies who were lost and to raise awareness about the ongoing fight to reduce infant mortality in local communities.

The walk will begin at the Laurens County Library and end at the Dublin City Hall, and everyone is welcome to attend and participate. 

“We are going to push empty strollers,” said Latosha Elbert, executive director at Heart of Georgia Healthy Start Coalition. “We have people who have lost their babies to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or they are stillborn. It is heartbreaking. When they categorized infant mortality, they are looking from birth to 1 years old. Even if a baby dies as a miscarriage, that is counted.” 

According to Georgia data, the state’s infant mortality rate was 6.9 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2025, compared to the U.S. rate of 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births. Tragically, 866 babies in Georgia died before reaching their first birthday in 2025 (only 16 were within the South Central Health District). These numbers are heartbreaking and are a reminder why the Heart of Georgia Healthy Start Coalition’s work is so important.

“We have had several stillbirths within the last couple of years,” Elbert said. “We’ve had some that died from (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) a couple of years ago. Our rates in the South Central Health District are not as bad as Georgia’s rates.”

Elbert said people pushing empty strollers is a powerful visual reminder of the babies who should be in them. 

“Each empty stroller represents a life that mattered, a family that grieves, and a community committed to making sure every baby has the opportunity to survive and thrive,” she said.

 “The event will provide an opportunity for families, community partners, healthcare professionals, faith-based organizations, local leaders, and advocates to come together in remembrance while also shining a light on the importance of maternal and infant health.”

For more information, call (478) 274-7616 or go to heartofgeorgiahealthystart.org.