ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Heart of Florida United Way rounded out a series of three baby showers for moms across Central Florida on Saturday.
On Wednesday, the organization held two baby showers for moms in Osceola and Seminole counties and the third took place on Saturday at the Valencia College West Campus in Orange County.
Across all three baby showers, 150 moms were celebrated with free resources to help get their babies off to the healthiest start.
But the event goes far beyond the baby shower itself. For moms like Diasha Fountain, it created a support system.
“Being able to walk into a place full of strangers but feeling love from everyone,” Fountain said. “Each donor or volunteer station was very helpful showing that they cared for women and babies.”
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Fountain attended last year’s baby shower, but this year, she came back a to pay it forward.
“I hope that I can get more people in my community where I live and my family and things can come to these events because it’s very — it’s family here, is what I would say,” Fountain said.
In order to qualify, the families must fall within the ALICE population.
ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. Lynnea Crawford, vice president of Events and Experiences for Heart of Florida United Way, said 47% of the population in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties would fall into ALICE.
“It is a much-loved and exciting time, but that financial strain is there,” Crawford said.
Each mom is given at least $200 worth of baby supplies, including a month supply of baby wipes and diapers, clothing, and feeding supplies.
Crawford said while the supplies get them started, the real impact is made through United Way and partner agencies.
“When that month’s supply of diapers runs out, when the clothing longer fits, they’ve received those connections to the valuable helpers in our community to continue that support,” Crawford said. “It’s not just a one-day support system. It’s building the village and continuing that network so people know where to turn when they find themselves in need.”
One of the partner agencies at Saturday’s event was the National Association of Hispanic Nurses. The group was there giving blood pressure screenings, and in some cases, suggesting women seek immediate medical care.
“We have had a few moms that are pregnant now with very elevated blood pressures,” said Jicel Espinosa-Williams with NAHN. “We have educated them about the risk and told them that it’s important that they go to the emergency room today because they’re so high that they could be at risk and their babies as well.”
Espinosa-Williams said outreach events like this are important when it comes to education.
“You know, many of our populations don’t understand the risk of high blood pressure,” Espinosa-Williams said. “And so, we get the one-on-one, we get to talk to them, and we get to educate them.”
To learn more about Heart of Florida United Way’s resources, click here.