Lunch and Learn New car seats and cribs with mattresses 
Busy table Spread out but still close
On April 17, 2021, The Dakota Center held our annual spring Community Baby Shower from Noon to 2pm. We were so very happy to be able to host this event with our partners: Dayton Children’s Hospital and Help Me Grow Brighter Futures. Dayton Children’s Hospital did a presentation on car seats and safe driving with children and Help Me Grow did a presentation on safe sleep.
We served a homemade lasagna, fresh garden salad, and frosted cupcakes for lunch. So we filled their stomachs as well as their cars with all good stuff. We will continue to stay in touch with these families all in the effort to get each child to their 1st birthday which is the Help Me Grow Program Pregnancy/Parenting Support .
It has been well documented that infant mortality rates are higher among women on the west side of Dayton. Preterm births are 3% higher (15%) than Mont. Co. (12%) The Infant Mortality Rate is almost double on the west side (13.4%) than Mont. Co (7.4).
We limited the invitation list to 20 families and 14 showed up on Saturday, April 17th (39 total with 8 of them being adolescent children). Each family received a car seat with a safety kit for road side emergencies (provided by Children’s Hospital). Each family received a new crib and mattress (provided by Help Me Grow Brighter Futures). Each family received a laundry basket filled with cloths, diapers, wipes, and such for infant care. Each family received from the United Methodist Women a gift bag filled with personal hygiene products, baby toys, 10 Graco Pack’N’Plays and a bunch of other little things to help new and expecting mothers.
Everyone had a great time and we are so excited for these new mothers to be. We pray for a healthy pregnancy, an uncomplicated birth and a long, fulfilling life. When these children are old enough we look forward to welcoming them into our After School program. Truly, one of the best events of the year for us.
