Volunteers came together recently at the Brown County YMCA to provide assistance and education to families at the first Community Baby Shower.
On Sept. 21, around 35 organizations and dozens of volunteers joined at the Brown County YMCA to offer the first Community Baby Shower for the county.
“A coalition, convened by Melissa Rittenhouse with generous support from Prevent Child Abuse-Indiana, has been working for almost a year to find ways to bring resources to our youngest community members and their families with hopes that no young mother, infant, toddler or their family members will lack for knowing that we are a community that cares,” St. Vincent de Paul volunteer Shirley Boardman said.
As previously reported in the Democrat, 18.1% of Brown County kids under the age of six, 6.9% between the ages of six and 11 and 6.5% between the ages of 12 and 17 live in poverty, according to the Indiana Youth Institute’s 2024 data book. Those rates make the county 16th overall in the state for highest rates of children living in poverty.
Around 31 households attended the event and about 70 children were reached through the effort, according to Boardman. The shower was funded by the Brown County Community Foundation, Prevent Child Abuse-Indiana, St. Vincent de Paul, Indiana Criminal Justice Initiative, IU Health, individual vendors and gifts from attendees.
In addition to support, families were able to receive education on health, nutrition, wellness, safe sleep, overall baby care and pregnancy resources. They also had the opportunity to learn about fire and gun safety.
Gun locks, smoke alarms, blankets, books, crib blankets, Pack-n-Plays, car seats and other items were available for families who needed assistance.
A safe sleep class was offered by Beth Lucas from Women, Infants and Children (WIC). IU Health, Indiana Criminal Justice Institute and Child Passenger Safety Technicians checked car seat installations, helping parents ensure the appropriate car seats were properly installed.
“The room was filled with joy and laughter,” Boardman said. “Community partners took time to meet and greet each other. Adorable babies and pregnant moms reminded us of why it is important to support and celebrate this segment of our population. Grandparents and family members wrangled energetic toddlers.”
Other organizations including the Brown County Public Library, the Villages of Indiana, Nurse Family Partnership, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Mother’s Cupboard and the Pentecostals were present to offer support, resources, information and more to local families.
The coalition will be working on the next steps to support this population going forward, Boardman said.
The community shower served 31 households and approximately 70 children, with 35 different organizations providing them with resources, education and more.
Jenise and Averi Bohbrink work at the Dolly Parton Imagination Library booth to provide literary resources to local families.
Volunteers came together recently at the Brown County YMCA to provide assistance and education to families at the first Community Baby Shower.
