Community Baby Shower provides more than resources, it provides dignity

Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

In a collaborative effort with the Pregnancy Care Network, an agency collective dedicated to pregnancy care, the Diocese of Covington Pro-Life Office hosted the biannual Community Baby Shower, Oct. 23, at the Holy Spirit Parish Center, Newport. These community baby showers serve those who otherwise may not be able to access care items for their children.

Peggy Piccola, administrative assistant, Pro-Life Office, said, “The goal of the event is to provide needed items of expecting parents, young families, who might not otherwise have the capability or the resources to have these items for their children.”

Over 220 expectant mothers were in attendance, with 22 different agencies tabling the event with resources for the expectant mothers and young families.

“We want them to have the tools to help them be successful in parenting,” said Faye Roch, director of the Pro-Life Office. “The agencies help people anywhere from giving them assistance to getting a GED and job placements, to car seats and health safety.”

Once the mothers or families have signed into the event, they are gifted a care package with “nice lotions, shower gels, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and items for the baby,” said Mrs. Piccola. “Some of these families don’t have the resources to have nice showers thrown for them where they can get these gifts, so we want to make everybody feel special,” she said.

To provide an abundance of baby items to ensure that everyone is provided for, parishes, schools, and organizations rallied to collect donations.

Mrs. Roch said that this community involvement is, “one of the most amazing things about the baby shower.”

“It is generously supported by our diocesan parishes, and without all the help from these parishes who donate just a massive amount of items — from diapers, wipes, baby clothing, strollers, wagons, pack and plays — we would not be able to be this generous,” she said. “Everybody has a little hand in it. It’s a Holy Spirit moment.”

The location of the community baby shower rotates from county to county, ensuring that everyone has equal access to pregnancy care services.

“At a previous shower, a mom made the comment that her baby didn’t have any new clothes,” said Mrs. Piccola, emphasizing the impact of the baby showers. “That would have been her child’s first new outfit.”

While the impact of these new outfits, diapers, and community services cannot be overstated, there is another, equally as important, piece to these community baby showers, said Mrs. Piccola. “I think the most important part is for these women to feel that they’re accepted and that people care, and to provide them with things for their baby, it’s just the dignity of it. I think it’s helpful for them to know that there are people out there that care about them.”