Group that hosts baby shower for military members seeks gift donations

By Kyle B. Hansen

Thursday, Dec. 16, 2010 | 3:45 p.m.

A local group of military supporters is seeking donated gifts to give to expectant mothers who are active-duty servicewoman or whose partners are deployed.

Operation Homefront will be holding a baby shower for about 100 new and expecting mothers on Jan. 22. The group says the annual event is the largest baby shower in the state.

In preparation, the group is asking for people to donate new, unwrapped baby items that can be used for the shower or given to the mothers.

"New motherhood is challenging enough under ideal circumstances, so being able to support and lift up these mothers while their partners are deployed is just fantastic,” said Carl Long, the president of the Nevada chapter of Operation Homefront. “It helps ensure moms have what they need, and reassures deployed dads that their loved ones are cared for so that they can focus on their mission."

The group is especially looking for diapers and baby wipes, baby shampoo and conditioner, bath toys, baby socks and shoes, bibs, utensils, bottles, baby blankets, mittens, hats and other clothes. The group is also seeking baby shower wrapping paper, bows and ribbons.

Donations can be dropped of before Jan. 15 at the valet of the Eastside Cannery, 5255 Boulder Highway; the Cannery, 2121 E. Craig Road; or the Rampart Casino, 221 E. Craig Road.

Donations will also be accepted in Las Vegas at the Desert Springs United Methodist Church, 120 N. Pavilion Center Drive, and Sunrise Baptist Church, 1780 Betty Lane. In Boulder City, donations can be delivered to Grace Community Church, 1150 Wyoming Street. And in Pahrump, they can be left at the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, 1651 Calvada Blvd.; Windrock Ranch Country Store, 4779 W. Bell Vista; New Hope Fellowship, 781 West St.; and The Way Baptist Fellowship, 2301 Windery Road.

Mothers who are expecting between Nov. 1 and April 31 and are active-duty servicewoman, spouses of active duty or reserve servicemen or national guardsman, can register for the shower at www.operationhomefront.net/nevada.