Make It Happen
- In Advance:
- Contact a local pregnancy center, women’s shelter, hospital or other agency that provides services for women expecting babies. Get a list of items they need donated. Be sure to ask what must be new and what can be gently used, if anything.
- Invite a representative from the agency to come to your event and share about the services provided.
- Pick a date. Create publicity and advertise.
- Reserve your space.
- Organize games, if you wish to have them.
- Coordinate decorations.
- Purchase supplies: tablecloths, napkins, cups, etc. Either provide snacks or ask guests to bring something to share.
- Set Up:
- Set up a space for guests to leave their gifts/donations. Consider borrowing a portable crib or using a manger. (It’s a shower for Mary, after all!)
- Set up a space for refreshments and beverages.
- Decorate the space as a baby shower. (Remember, young adults are often planning or attending baby showers. Ask them to provide any leftover decorations and use their ideas!)
- Prepare for any games. (Again, let young adults run with this!)
- Be sure to welcome all guests as they arrive.
- Provide time for guests to mingle as they arrive. You might have some baby-related guessing games, like guessing what kind of baby food is in the jar (remove or cover the label.)
- If you’re having games, gather those who wish to participate. (You can use Pinterest to get ideas for shower games.)
- Invite your guests to have some refreshments.
- While your guests are eating, the representative from the agency can give a short presentation about the services provided.
- Conclude your event with a prayer service. Depending on when you host your event, you can focus your prayer around Mary’s visit with Elizabeth (Advent) or perhaps the Magi bringing gifts to the baby Jesus (Christmas).
- Make arrangements to transport the donated items to the service agency.
Ideas
- Place bins in the gathering space of your parish, inviting parishioners to participate in your collection.
- Take a trip to the service agency to see what they do. Check out any future volunteer opportunities.
- Send thank you notes to everyone who participated.
