This article by Emma Wulfhorst appeared on FOX61.com.
For the fourth year in a row in Hartford, The Village for Families & Children hosted a free baby shower for new and expecting parents at the Pope Park recreational center.
“Right now, I’m having a boy, and before we had like multiple girls, so now you know, things have changed so we just kind of talk about how it goes,” said Hartford mom Dismary.
This is her third Village baby shower, and she says the access to free resources, tips and help is important.
“We get the chance to do the income tax, you know, like about the season and we do it for free, we get tips on how to save like financially,” Dismary explained. “Sometimes, we focus so much like working all week and 40 hours working, and then we’re full-time moms too and then our parents are older, so there are many things that are coming up, like new things.”
Baby shower attendees received goody bags with diapers, clothing, toys and more — all provided by donors and local corporations.
Melanie Santos is the community network quality coordinator for Stronger Families, Stronger Futures, a Village program that provides direct support to families with children up to five years old.
“We received a ton of donations from the community partners,” Santos said. “The vendors, the community resources that we have available for them, the raffle prizes, just overall giving that sense of community when they may not have had that during their prenatal or pregnancy experience.”
For moms like Dismary, it’s that sense of community that keeps her coming back.
“Connect with other parents and help us co-parent as well for the moms that have been divorced like myself, that I have teenager kids,” she continued. “It feels really like you feel important and heard because all the moms, you know, they can share it with you and they talk to you about their experiences and you can share with them yours.”
The Village is still accepting donations through May.
