They say it takes a village to raise a child. For new and expectant families, finding that village, and knowing where to turn for help, can be just as important as support itself. Recognizing that need, the Metacomet Public Health Alliance is bringing together local organizations and resources through two community baby showers designed to connect families with the services available to them.

Last year, the organization launched its first community baby shower. This year the event is expanding to two locations with more vendors, offering parents and caregivers essential baby supplies and educational resources in a celebratory, supportive environment.

"We have concentrated primarily on the elder population," said public health nurse Jeanine Murphy of her organization. "But it has become apparent that in the communities we serve, younger residents are in need of services and resources too."

Two community baby showers are planned for this month. On Tuesday, August 18, a shower will be held at the Wrentham Senior Center from 4 to 6 p.m., and on Tuesday, August 25, a second shower will be held at the Norfolk Public Library, also from 4 to 6 p.m.

The Metacomet Public Health Alliance serves residents in Franklin, Norfolk, Wrentham, but the community baby showers are open to everyone, not just residents of those three towns.

Murphy described the events as welcoming "new and expectant moms, dads, young families, grandparents, aunts, uncles - really anybody."

The showers combine educational resources with practical assistance. At least eleven organizations are expected to participate in person, while additional organizations that cannot attend will provide information for a resource table. There will also be raffle prizes for attendees.

Among the participating organizations are the SAFE Coalition, WIC (Women, Infants and Children), local police and fire departments, pediatric specialists, a postpartum doula, a birth doula, a lactation consultant, a family medicine physician, representatives from Abbott, a Montessori school and the Newborn Hearing Screening Program.

Police and fire personnel will also provide car seat fittings for families.

Last year, SAFE Coalition donated 30 car seats to the shower and provided every attendee with a bag containing diapers and wipes. Whether car seats will be available this year depends on grant funding, Murphy said.

The two events also rely on community donations to provide some of the essential items for families. Through mid-month, residents can drop off donations at the libraries, pediatricians' offices, and the senior centers, as well as Franklin, Norfolk, and Wrentham town halls. Supplies needed include diapers, wipes, formula, baby food, bottles, feeding supplies, pacifiers, baby toiletry items, new and gently used infant clothing and bedding, baby toys, and personal care items for new mothers. New car seats are also welcome but used car seats cannot be accepted because their safety history cannot be verified.

Murphy said formula, particularly specialty formula, remains one of the greatest needs because of its cost.

The baby showers also bring together multiple generations of the community. Last year, local senior citizens created baby shower favors by arranging infant socks into flowers. Others crocheted and knitted blankets and hats for families.

"The seniors' contributions were a huge hit," Murphy said.

The inaugural community baby shower attracted public health nurses from other communities looking for ideas to bring back to their own municipalities, noted Murphy.

Community baby showers became a modern public health and social initiative starting in the 2010s. Hosted by healthcare networks or local governments, they are viewed as a valuable way to reach new and expectant families to let them know about resources available to them, as well as providing education, contacts, and baby supplies.

Murphy emphasized that one of the primary goals of a community baby shower is making families aware of services they may not know exist. "It's really just educating the public on what's out there to help," she said. "Depending on a family's circumstances and where they receive care, they may not always learn about services such as birth doulas or lactation consultants, for example. We want families to know those resources exist."

She hopes that increasing families' awareness of available programs and services will encourage them to seek help early, improving outcomes for children.

"By connecting people and services, we hope to close developmental gaps and reduce the need for special education," Murphy said. "It's about empowering families by helping them understand what resources are available so they can get the support they need."

For more information about the baby showers or the Metacomet Public Health Alliance, visit metacometpha.org.