Lewiston council, community partners to hold baby shower July 22

The Prevention Council at Community Concepts Inc. is set to host a community baby shower for Androscoggin County on Friday, July 22, at The Colisée on Birch Street in Lewiston. This free community event will support new and expecting parents and their babies, as well as promote safe sleep for infants and children. Parents and caregivers have a choice of participating in a 10 a.m. session or a 12:30 p.m. session, according to a news release from the council.

“This is an opportunity to enhance community supports to the families living in Androscoggin County,” said Susan Denoncour, director of Family Services at CCI. “By helping new and expectant parents with obtaining many of the necessary items it takes to care and nurture newborns, we are creating the village it takes to support one another and build lasting relationships with the families in our neighborhoods.”

Participants will receive a welcome-baby bag upon arrival filled with essentials for both parents/caregivers and babies. Following an educational presentation on safe sleep, they will then be able to “shop” through new and gently used baby items such as clothing, bedding and books. Raffles will be held for harder to attain items, such as car seats and cribs. Other local nonprofits and service providers, including WIC, Promise Early Education Center, and the Immigrant Resource Center of Maine, will also attend to connect families with the medical care, dental care, social services support, and education resources available to them.

“It has been an honor to plan and coordinate this community baby shower alongside many generous community partners who have donated wonderful items and volunteered their time to prepare for this event,” shared Cassandra Wallace, community coordinator with the Prevention Council. “I am overjoyed by the amount of support we have received, and the positive responses community members have expressed. It really does take a village and this community support is just what we all need; to come together, celebrate and support one another.”

For the past several years, children in Androscoggin County have been victims of maltreatment at some of the highest rates in Maine. Children ages birth to age 1 have been at the highest risk. CCI’s Prevention Council works with families to provide parenting education and support to help everyone in the family thrive and to bring these numbers down. For more information, contact Wallace at cwallace@community-concepts.org.

The community baby shower is funded by the P&G Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation. Registration for the event is required. To reserve a spot, call 207-402-1621 or email parentworkshops@community-concepts.org.