Alexis Teske picks up her baby shower gifts from the Virtual Community Baby Shower, hosted by the Great Start Collaborative and funded through a grant by Children Trust Michigan.
Alexis Teske picks up her baby shower gifts from the Virtual Community Baby Shower, hosted by the Great Start Collaborative and funded through a grant by Children Trust Michigan.
MENOMINEE — Baby bingo, endless desserts and the chance to chat with family.
For some, that’s the hallmark of an in-person baby shower — and it’s that feeling that the Great Start Collaborative tried to recreate when it took its community baby shower online during COVID-19. They hope to be back in person in September with the traditional games and foods, said Mary Bauer, Great Start Community Educator.
The Great Start Collaborative and Children Trust Michigan are excited to offer a free, virtual community baby shower for new or expecting moms with one guest of their choosing. The deadline to sign up is Friday, with the class starting on Monday. Registrants will need a Google account to complete the course, as it takes place on Google Classroom.
The class is an excellent way to introduce families to the resources they need to succeed. Once parents attend the course, they aren’t locked into any other programs, but it gets them started on setting their child up for success.
“So much of a person’s future life is really impacted by their childhood experiences,” Bauer said. “To get adults and young adults to understand that — raising a child is a journey that’s gonna last for forever.”
The baby shower isn’t quite a party but a group of self-guided online classes on essential topics like sleeping, feeding, bonding, development, play, reading and postpartum depression. However, each mom-to-be will leave with a pack of diapers, a Pack and Play, a sleep sack, a baby carrier and possible raffle prizes like a stroller and car seat. After class completion, organizers will contact the participants to redeem their gifts at the Menominee County Intermediate School District (ISD), 1201 41st Ave., Menominee.
The class is not income-based, which means anyone can join, and priority is given to expectant and new parents in Menominee County, since a Michigan grant, Children Trust Michigan, funds the program.
“This is great area to work and live in. I just really want to see Menominee kids thrive,” Bauer said. “Hopefully, they will come back to make the community an even better place. We need that.”
The idea for the community baby showers took off about 2016 or 2017 at the ISD. Each bi-yearly session has included presenters on topics that anxious parents might want to know more about, like safe sleep, speech and playtime.
“A lot of parents don’t understand that they can play with their newborn,” said Sarah Hanson, Director of Great Start Collaborative of Menominee County. “They think that newborns just eat sleep and do nothing, but they don’t. They’re ready to play, and they’re ready to learn even at that age.”
Hanson said she’s gotten great input on the program, which wraps up by providing parents a packet of other ISD services like Imagination Library, a program that mails a free, monthly book to enrolled children ages 0 through 5 in Menominee County.
The Great Start Collaborative serves about 1,000 families a year, with 560 kids taking advantage of the free library book and around 300 Playgroup Packet pickups, a bimonthly program that provides developmental games for kids ages 0 to 5.
“The mission of our organization is to serve the parents of Menominee County and help to raise safe, healthy children that are reading proficiently by the end of third grade,” Hanson said.
People can call Hanson at 906-863-5665 Ext. 1028 to sign up for the Virtual Community Baby Shower. Participants are advised to leave a message to sign up if there is no answer, and the call will be returned promptly.
For Playgroup Packet registration, call 906-863-5665 Ext. 1018 or email mbauer@mc-isd.org to reserve a spot.
People can visit their Facebook page at Great Start Parent Coalition Menominee County or their website for more information at greatstartmenomineecounty.org.
