Rebekah Petit of Madison County Job and Family Services sets out baby lotion and baby shampoo for the department’s Community Baby Shower Nov. 13 in Mount Sterling. Numerous items for baby as well as information on maternal health were available for the 17 moms or moms-to-be who attended this event. In addition to stocking up on the necessities, moms had a buffet dinner and could view short programs on maternal health. The event is held twice a year in the spring and in November.
(Posted Nov. 15, 2018)
By Sandi Latimer, Staff Writer
Jeannette Oliver came with her pre-school age daughter, Aurora, in tow. Others came with husbands or boyfriends or other members of the family.
Most of the women were moms-to-be, but Oliver had given birth six and a half weeks prior. Little Gloria Anne was being cared for at home while Oliver came to a baby shower at the Community Center not far from her Mount Sterling home.
“This is all new to me,” Oliver said as she strolled down the hallway of the center where a variety of maternal health and other exhibitors had set up displays to hand out information to the mothers.
While Oliver talked to Diane Francescon about what to do when her baby gets sick, her daughter, Aurora, was decked out in a pink coat and pink gloves, which gave her difficulties opening a book.
When asked how she likes her baby sister, she replied, “She cries all the time.”
And what does she do then? “I sing,” Aurora said, and her mother affirmed it.
Aurora then started singing “I’m a Little Teapot” and “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.”
Oliver was one of 17 moms or moms-to-be who attended the baby shower put on by the Madison County Department of Job and Family Services. The event offered information and items the women may not get elsewhere, said Amy Hix, a parent educator.
The department started this project two years ago and stages two events a year, one in the spring and one in November, each in a different community.
“In those two years we have reached 100 moms,” she said.
Large items, like a crib and mattress, stroller, and car seat, were purchased with monetary donations to the project while smaller items were donated by businesses, individuals and even inmates at London Correctional.
Moms received tickets upon registration. They could use them to drop in jars in hopes of winning an item they needed.
They were also welcome to take the smaller items they would need. Among them were onesies and socks, necessities mom would need to bring baby home.
In addition to stocking up on the necessities, moms had a buffet dinner and could view short programs on maternal health.
