Drive-Thru Community Baby Shower

[Part of the purpose of this director's blog is to record process. In this post, I'm at the very beginning stages of planning a community event.]

Here's my latest hair-brained scheme: Have a baby shower for all of the babies recently born and to be born in Vinton County. Let's celebrate the birth of every child with the basic necessities--diapers, onesies, rattles, wet wipes, and more! Let's give the future citizens of Vinton County a head start even before Head Start. United Way of Vinton County will sponsor this event, with lots of community support, but it will not be a fund-raising enterprise. UWVC just wants to demonstrate its commitment to the future of this place we call home.

I propose a community drive-thru baby shower. Pull up, get a piece of cake and a cup of punch while your donation is unloaded, and drive on. We'll even give you a receipt--and you never have to get out of your car. This idea is my attempt to do what every non-profit struggles with--making giving as easy as possible. I recall food drive-throughs, toy drive-throughs at Christmas. People seem to like the no-fuss approach to just dropping it off without leaving the car.

I admit that this idea was triggered by the McDonald's restaurant that is being built on the road I drive to work. As the block walls went up, I was tickled to see a drive-through window hole, and then a second one (meaning that we'll be able to pay separately from ordering and picking up food--we've hit the big time). The thought of just cruising through for a coffee or sandwich makes me happy. I'm not sure this is a good thing about me (or my culture), that I want my food to not interrupt my flow, but I do own it; it's real. It's (for better or worse) part of who we are at this time in this place.

My first step in planning any event is to go through the classic journalism questions--who, what, where, when, why, how, and how much. I know that if I can answer these, I've covered the basics. Let me know, readers, what you think about this event--your ideas, suggestions, and cautions.

Who (is doing the work): United Way of Vinton County (sponsor); potential partners include other agencies that serve families, women, and children, such as Sojourners, Head Start, Help Me Grow, Shepherd's House, HRS, ISS, schools, Families and Children First Council, Rio Grande Community College, Ahoy, Health Department (immunization schedules) and many others.

[Just since I started writing this, I've been on the phone with wonder woman Trish from Shepherd's House and she agreed to help with this project.]

I'm hoping that some corporate sponsors will jump on board, such as Kohls and Walmart. A big donation of disposable diapers would not go amiss. Would the state highway patrol come and demonstrate correct installation of car seats? Does the library want to have a readathon? Does the American Red Cross want to give babysitting classes that day, or infant CPR?

This lengthy list is only limited by my imagination (and yours--would love to hear suggestions).

Who (is benefitting): The newborns, babies, and mothers/families of Vinton County will receive some version of a gift box if they apply to certain agencies. One organization will be selected as the holder of the stuff and will distribute it upon receiving a referral notice from another agency. The holding organization will keep a list to prevent a mother from applying to more than one referral source. (I hate thinking of fraud when the goal is generosity, but that's how it is. I know that some donors will not participate if we don't have a plan to weed out dishonesty.) We can also use the list to send out United Way birthday cards, if we get that organized.

What: Vinton County Community Drive-Thru Baby Shower to shower the future citizens of Vinton County with gifts that make up a starter kit for babies and a pampering kit for mom.

Where: Wyman Park, the biggest park in the county. Cars will pull into the parking area through the park's south entrance, unload, get drive-through cake and beverage and exit at the north of the parking lot. People can also park and stay, participating in activities and browsing educational materials. Alternate locations might include Vinton Industries, Super Valu, Sojourners 605,  Beulah May’s lot, courthouse gazebo...or even the old high school parking lot.

When: Looking at a Saturday in September (8th or 15th?) right now. The United Way wants an activity planned for the longest day of the year, but I didn't find out soon enough to get this idea going. Time: 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

Why: To gather new and gently used baby items for distribution to babies in our community, to demonstrate that we are the village it takes to raise a child.

Food: Piece of cake/cupcake and fruity beverage ready for every car that comes through (because cake and punch is served at traditional baby showers); sell or offer hot dogs/buns, veggies/dip for those who are hanging around--an organization may wish to do this as a fundraiser.

Decorations: Pink and blue streamers, of course

Special Request: Donations of children’s pajamas and socks to Shepherd’s House

Referrals provided by: WIC, Shepherd’s House, St. Francis Center, Lutheran Social Services, Children’s Services, Help Me Grow, Goodwill, Truth Food Pantry, Sojourners, Care Outreach, police/sheriff, pastors, etc.

Activities: Every Baby a Winner Photo Contest (take photos of kids to post on facebook); infant/child CPR training; make tied fleece baby blankets; tie-dye onesies; read-aloud story time; face-painting, henna (?)

Booths: For adoption information, foster care parent recruitment, family planning?, youth homelessness, etc.

Donations: from Kohls, Walmarts, CVS, community, other retailers (focus on disposable diapers, wet wipes, new toys, etc.), Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Adena, Holzer system, Holzer Clinic, O'Blennis

Volunteers: needed for every function, but especially for cake making, unloading, and packaging donations into kits

Afterparty: Might need to meet the next day or that evening to sort out the donations and package them up for delivery

Empty boxes or bins: For collected stuff

Items accepted: Disposable diapers, pull-ups; Formula/baby food; Onesies and sleepers; Socks and booties; Wet wipes; Baby blankets; New and gently used clothing, toys, books; Car seats/booster seats (do these have to be new?); Items for mom--lotions, smelly soaps, loofah, book (What to Expect in the First Year)

Publicity: Press releases one month and one week out for all local newspapers, social media, radio, ask all partners to publicize to their members and clientele

Door Prize: I would love to be able to give out a free labor/delivery from Adena! I’m not kidding!

I'll keep you posted.