May 4, 2016
Collecting ‘love’ for babies Around Town
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O’Fallon’s Founders Day
Around Town
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Color Dash
Volunteers collect donations for Shower of Love outside of Schnucks at Mexico Road and Mid Rivers Mall Drive.
Photo by Ray Rockwell
Shower of Love marks 10 years of gathering donations for mothers and babies in St. Charles County
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By Brett Auten It was a whirlwind of sorting and organizing last week at the St. Joachim & Ann Care Service center as anything from diapers to furniture – everything a baby needs – was collected and parceled to those in need. When the dust had settled, 10 nonprofit agencies in St. Charles County partnered to help struggling families with infants and toddlers in what has become a tradition known as Shower of Love. Local businesses, schools and nonprofits were hosting drives for Shower of Love since the beginning of April, and volunteers were collecting baby items at local grocery stores throughout St. Charles County. Over the past nine years, Shower of Love has raised over $650,000 in baby donations. Each year, with this being the 10th, Shower of Love helps hundreds of struggling families provide the most basic needs many take for granted; like formula, diapers and wipes. The Shower of Love was actually born in the mid-1990s after the Community and Children’s Resource Board (CCRB) became alarmed about the number of critical child abuse incidences in St.
Charles County. The goal of Shower of Love is to collect enough baby items to supply every child for a year and in doing so, giving each baby a strong and loving start in this world. Diapers alone are a big deal. Some moms have reported that diaper needs are even more distressing than not having enough food for their family. Women with diaper needs also reported more difficulty with stress management, depression and coping with trauma; which can negatively affect a child’s health and development. Disposable diapers alone can cost up to $100 per month per baby. Shower of Love is a possibility due to the collaborative effort of 10 local nonprofits who work directly with these families, including: Sts. Joachim & Ann Care Service, Birthright of St. Charles and Wentzville, Crisis Nursery, Nurses for Newborns, Our Lady’s Inn, Mary Queen of Angels, The Sparrow’s Nest Maternity Homes, ThriVe, and Youth In Need. Michelle McElfresh, who spearheads the program from the CCRB, said the goal of the project was to draw power
through numbers. “The goal of the agency was to maximize community resources,” McElfresh said. “Together we’re better.” It also hopes to reduce parental stresses, which in turn lessens the risk of child abuse and neglect. “We hope that the shower alleviates some of the stress young families face,” McElfresh said. “The diapers and formula can last up to six months or so, and lotion up to a year.” Kelly Mareshal was one of those young mothers. The 29-year-old St. Charles county resident was in need of getting her and her child out of a dangerous situation and Shower of Love was there for her. “I was trying to leave an abusive situation,” Mareshal said. “They helped me get into the house I’m in now. They kept me safe, helped me keep food on the table when I wasn’t working. It was tremendous. Now things are awesome. Safe, happy and good to go.” The Shower of Love has seen the number of agencies increase from just five in the first year. See babies on page 2
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