Biannual community baby shower brings community together to aid mothers in need

Maura Baker

Staff Writer

In collaboration with the Pregnancy Care Network, a collective of agencies dedicated to pregnancy and family care, the Diocese of Covington’s Pro-life Office hosted the biannual Community Baby Shower, April 21, at the St. Elizabeth Training and Education Center, Erlanger. Baby showers such as this one provide community resources as well as necessary care items, donated by parishes and schools, to mothers and families who may not otherwise have access to them.

The largest of the community baby showers yet, 188 pregnant and new mothers were served at the shower — rounding to a total of 900 total assisted since the baby showers began in 2023.

Among the services provided and offered at the shower were breastfeeding demonstrations and information about obtaining insurance and GEDs as well as smoking cessation. Donated items included handmade blankets, diapers and large items such as strollers, car seats and pack-and-plays that were raffled off to registered families.

“It is the community coming together to serve women and families,” said Faye Roch, director of the Pro-life Office, who orchestrates the showers. Volunteers included religious sisters and high school students, and food was donated by the women religious and physicians of St. Elizabeth hospital, according to Mrs. Roch.

“You do see a lot of joy on these people’s faces when they come through and get items,” she said, emphasizing the dignity of these women as decisions on baby clothing and blankets are left to the individuals.

“It truly is the fishes and loaves — ever baby shower, I worry if we will have enough … but we packed up some blankets to bring back with us. So I look at these as the fishes and loaves with all the items we receive. It really is amazing.”

With the next Community Baby Shower planned for the autumn, Mrs. Roch and the Pro-life Office are working to coordinate with rural Gallatin and Owen counties on their own showers to be held in the summer — with Mrs. Roch’s hope that the goodwill will “expand” into these other communities.