Baby shower to bring together mothers, organizations
Baby showers by tradition are a way for mothers-to-be to connect with relatives and friends in a special way.
The upcoming Butler Community Baby Shower is a way to connect new and expectant mothers in need with baby items and local organizations and resources.
Taking place from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 3, at the social hall of St. Peter Roman Catholic Church, 127 Franklin St., the community baby shower is the culmination of the “Walking with Moms in Need” yearlong initiative by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, according to the shower’s organizers, Cil Love of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Cabot and Stephanie Snow of St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, Coylesville.
“Walking with Moms in Need is an initiative of the bishops, but what it means on the parish level is that everyone should know where to refer people in need,” Love said. “Parishes should be a refuge for mothers and a place of support.”
“This way, we can see if there are gaps in the community support and fill those gaps,” Snow said. “We wanted to bring together the community and bringing mothers together with the services so they knew they were not alone.”
In that spirit, the shower is being sponsored by the St. Francis of Assisi and St. Clare of Assisi parishes. Schools such as North Catholic and Butler Catholic also are planning drives to collect baby items such as diapers and wipes.
“We’re getting a lot of help from the parishioners from other churches,” Love said. “This has really been a community effort.”
That effort extended to Concordia at Cabot’s three independent living centers, Havens 1, 2 and 3, where containers have been collecting donations of baby items such as bottles, toys and clothes.
“They’re doing that for Lent and will collect until Easter,” Love said.
In addition, Snow said people wanting to make donations can go to www.saintfrancisparish.net and follow a link to reach an Amazon wish list. Items can purchased for delivery directly to the Butler Community Baby Shower, Love said.
In addition to material items such as diapers and wipes, said Love and Snow, the shower’s organizers are reaching out to groups that help and support those in need to attend the community baby shower.
“The baby shower is a great way to bring together organizations in Butler County that support mothers,” Love said. Groups already are lined up to attend the June 3 baby shower.
Representatives from the Pittsburgh Poison Center, Safe Kids, the Lighthouse Foundation, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and Butler Catholic School will be on hand at the event.
Snow and Love said new and expectant mothers who could use more items for their baby should register to attend the baby shower. It’s open to pregnant women and mothers whose children are a year old or younger.
Attendees must sign up www.saintfrancisparish.net. Donated prizes will will be handed out during the shower.
All mothers will be given a tote bag to fill with items that will be handed out at resource tables, Love said, and they will be eligible for the free raffle drawings.
Love said bIg-ticket items such as car seats and play mats will be raffled during the shower in addition to raffles of baskets of baby items.
Snow said volunteers are needed to run registration and the raffles. Community members should sign up at www.saintfrancisparish.net.
Love said any leftover baby items, products and clothes from the shower will be donated to Catholic Charities.
Snow urged both expectant mothers, mothers and volunteers to register for the baby shower.
She said, “I’ve had three different pregnancies. It took a lot of support from my family, my employer and my church. To give that back to other moms is really important.”
