Participants in the community baby shower Saturday, sponsored by the Health Community Coalition of Wood County, pose for a photo. The annual event was held at South Parkersburg Baptist Church. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG — The Healthy Community Coalition of Wood County held a community baby shower Saturday at South Parkersburg Baptist Church.

Participating moms received a homemade quilt from Quilts for Kids, resources from more than 25 agencies and had lunch with other moms. They listened to speakers from WV Family Health, Mamaology and MOV WIC.

“It’s important to make a difference in the lives of families and we decided to start with our little ones because that’s as we know who’s going to be our future some day,” said Shannon Hedrick of West Virginia Birth to Three and the Healthy Community Coalition of Wood County chair.

The event meant a lot to Parkersburg resident Lillian Swisher, who had a baby 6 months ago.

“It’s good to have the community support to see what resources are available and the chance to interact with other new moms and expecting mothers,” Swisher said. “A lot of times having a new baby can feel very isolating and so just the chance to get together and socialize with other new moms who are going through exactly the same thing is nice as well.

“It’s good to know what the community has to offer to help support,” she said.

Among participating organizations were Aetna Better Health of West Virginia, Blueprints, WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center, Career Connections, Children’s Home Society, Choices, Community Resources Inc. Thrive, Consumer Credit Counseling Services, Gabriel Project, Habitat for Humanity, Headstart, Mamaology, Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department, Mountain State Parents Can, MOV WIC, Northern Regional Highway Safety Program (carseat check available), South Parkersburg Public Library, The Health Plan, Unicare Health Plan of WV, Westbrook Health Services, WV Birth to Three Region 2, WV Family Health, WV Health Check, Women’s Care Center, Wood County Schools Preschool, WVU Children’s Medicine and YoungLives MOV.

Sponsors of the baby shower were Healthy Community of Wood County, WV Birth to Three, The Health Plan, WV Family Health, Unicare, Aetna, Children’s Home Society, and Children’s Home Society Partners in Prevention.