It takes a village

Healthcare, social service and education providers are partnering up to host a drive-thru community baby shower for expecting and new parents 4 to 6 p.m. May 6 in the Tech Center parking lot at Southwestern Community College. The event, co-sponsored by Southwestern Community College and Greater Regional Health will connect attendees to community resources and benefits they may not otherwise know exist.

Kristie Nixon, director of Parents as Teachers and Early Childhood Education at Southwestern Community College, said the event is a way to engage new families and to reconnect with parents and families as agencies start to reopen following the 2020 closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“With COVID, a lot of agencies and organizations haven’t been really able to reach out with events like they normally would, so we came up with a drive-through baby shower to engage those prenatal families,” she said.

Nixon said the resources and information provided at the community baby shower will help families be successful as new parents.

“The first place (parents) really go is their physician or pediatrician. A lot of families are connected to 1st Five through their doctor and they can help connect them to different resources, but I think some, especially new parents, might not share with their doctor they have a concern or they are struggling ... or they need help figuring this out,” said Nixon. “I think a community baby shower is a little less threatening where they can get some information and have a contact of who to call if they are needing assistance with a certain need or concern they might have.”

Aside from its sponsors, agencies and organizations that will be present at the event will also include Early Childhood Iowa, Quad Counties 4 Kids, Community Partnerships for Protecting Children, LC Clinic, Childcare Provider Awareness Group, Child Care Resource and Referral, and Parents as Teachers. Each vendor will be providing information and take home items, such as a sleep sack with information about safe sleeping and books to share with newborns. Additional door prizes include a video monitor, high chair, Pack n’ Play, and baby carrier.

“We are super excited about this. We haven’t done anything like this in our community before,” said Nixon. “It will kind of be like a real baby shower because they will drive through little stations, get some information, and we even have a refreshment station like a baby shower.”

Union County prenatal families and families with young infants are encouraged to attend the community baby shower 4 to 6 p.m. May 6 in the Tech Center parking lot at Southwestern Community College. To register, call SWCC at 641-782-1441.