Fayette County Moms’ Shower slated
Any woman having a baby this year is welcome to attend the 10th annual Fayette County Moms’ Shower, which is slated for 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 10 at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus. Hosted by more than 30 health and human services agencies, businesses and organizations, anyone attending the event will receive lunch and a baby gift.
This year’s theme is wellness with speakers that include a local pediatrician talking about first aid, a professor explaining ways to relieve stress and a member of the Pennsylvania State Police discussing laws regarding child safety seats. An agency fair is included to provide information to the mothers.
“One of the reasons we do this is the statistics,’ said Sandy Baugh of Communities in School’s Pregnant and Parenting Teen Program and a member of the Fayette County Moms’ Shower Committee. “Fayette County is number two in the state for low-birth rate and second with the number of teen pregnancies.’
“There is also a high infant mortality rate,’ said Marlene Kolopsky of Fayette County Healthy Start and another member of the shower committee.
The committee members discussed other factors that increase the risk to the baby. But the moms’ shower hopes to fight against them by educating young mothers.
“The moms’ shower has been around for 10 years providing an educational and fun experience for moms,’ Kolopsky said. “We provide lunch, an agency fair and speakers and all services are free.’
There are no income guidelines for the event, which is for mothers only. No childcare services are provided.
“This is a special day for moms,’ Kolopsky said.
Jessica Curry of Uniontown attended a moms’ shower two years ago when she was pregnant with her second child. She also plans to attend this year as she is expecting twins.
“I enjoyed it. I felt the speaker was entertaining. I found it very helpful. Going to the booths is how I found my daycare center,’ Curry said.
Ashley Kurta of McClellandtown is a new mother to her son Ayden Kiefer and she plans to attend her first moms’ shower.
“I’m excited to get out of the house for a day by myself,’ she said, as she smiled.
The moms’ shower begins at 11:30 a.m. in the Williams Building with an agency fair. Cheryl DeCarlo of Child Care Information Services of Fayette County and another member of the moms’ shower committee explained that each agency is asked to bring three gifts that are given to the mothers by a drawing at the end of the day.
“The mothers go home with at least one gift,’ DeCarlo said.
The agency fair is followed by a healthy lunch provided by Hartsek Catering with cakes provided by the Fayette County Area Vocational-Technical School’s Culinary Arts department. Members of the New Meadow Run Bruderhof in Farmington will serve.
Speakers will be heard in the auditorium after lunch, followed by a drawing for gifts. Anyone who would like to donate a new baby item or provide some funding for the moms’ shower can contact Baugh at 724-564-2024, extension 3116.
For more information or to register, call Erica Usher at 724-438-3576, ext. 162.