United Way’s Community Baby Shower
The holidays are approaching, what better time is it to reach out and help families in need? That’s exactly what United Way has in mind with its Community Baby Shower. From now until December 8th, as part of Heart of Florida United Way’s focus on healthy children and families, the organization is partnering with local companies to support at-risk mothers and infants through a community-wide baby shower. I spoke with Lorri Highet, the Director of the Volunteer Resource Center, about how to help spread the word and give back to the community.
GalTime Orlando:
How did this idea get started?
Lorri Highet, United Way:
The Heart of Florida United Way is committed to developing healthy children in families. In fact, it is one of our four priority areas that we focus on in terms of bringing community resources together to support. With the holidays approaching, we know that a lot of our community’s citizens are looking for ways to help others, especially children. Toys are most often the popular solution. However, there are also many new and soon-to be mothers right here in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties who are struggling to make ends meet, let alone provide the basic necessities for their babies. This baby shower not only helps to provide a little bit more to these mothers, but also helps to raise awareness and gives our generous citizens a different opportunity to give back to children during the holidays.
GalTime Orlando:
What are the different ways people can get involved and help?
Lorri Highet, United Way:
First and foremost, we are encouraging people to donate items from a basic needs list: newborn diapers, baby blankets, wipes, formula, onesies, and books for babies. We are including books because another priority for United Way is education, and we are including in these baby bags some wonderful information on how these new moms can begin down the critical road to literacy with their infants. These items should be dropped off to our office at 1940 Traylor Blvd. in Orlando December 6 – 8th between 8am and 5pm.
We are suggesting to people – although not necessary – that they encourage others to also donate by coordinating a holiday baby shower event. Invite friends over, coordinate something at work, at their churches, or in their neighborhoods. We have invitations and posters available to download on our website to help make it easy.
People who donate items are invited to also volunteer on our pack and delivery day, Dec 9. On this day, all of the items donated will be packed into individual baby bags for the mothers and then the volunteers will be given a box of the bags to deliver to one of the non-profit agencies who work with these moms and who can get these bags to those who need it most.
GalTime Orlando:
How do people volunteer?
Lorri Highet, United Way:
People can visit our website,www.hfuw.org and click on the baby shower icon. There, you will be able to register as a baby shower participant. We also have a baby registry at Target.com for those who want to help but might not be able get out to a target, or another store. With that said, all they have to do is click on the link through our website, order the items they'd like and even have it delivered to us.
GalTime Orlando:
What items are needed the most?
Lorri Highet, United Way:
We purposefully kept our needs list very short – only six items (see above) because we want to ensure that each mom receives the essentials. Therefore, all items on the list are equally needed.
What a great way to give back! For more information about the Community Baby Shower, Click here.
$20 off the royal peek
