Thank you to Joan Trygg, Women United Community Baby Shower Chair, for sharing 
why you love Women United and the Community Baby Shower.
For more information on Women United or the Community Baby Shower, visit http://www.msaunitedway.org/women-united and like WU on Facebook.
Last year, as I started my normal morning routine, I did what pretty much every American citizen does… checked social media.
I opened Facebook and I saw a post from my friend Trisha. She was posting about a Community Baby Shower, an event where baby items are collected and put into baskets for new or expecting mothers in need. I clicked on the event, read the details and thought this was definitely something I could help with. The event information was from an MSA United Way group called Women’s Leadership Circle (now called Women United). I talked to a few other friends and we all decided to go and volunteer.
I arrived at the event and was a little nervous since I was the first to show up from my
group of friends and I knew no one. I was welcomed by several awesome ladies who explained to me what they’re all about and the types of events they are involved in. I remember how nice they were. Not the fake nice, but the kind of nice where you know they care and are genuinely glad you are there. We assembled the bags, got to know each other and enjoyed our day.
After the event was over, I decided to join Women United. We worked side by side at Day of Caring at Welcome House, adopted a classroom at Saxvik Elementary, collected food at the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive and so much more.
This past spring, I received a Hero plaque. Certainly something I was not expecting. I don’t feel like a hero. I feel like I am part of a family – a family of ladies who are all working to help our community address the needs in education, poverty, hunger and more.
This year I had the honor of chairing the Community Baby Shower. I am proud to say that with the work of several ladies, the event was an overwhelming success. Our group of volunteers assembled 112 bags filled with necessities such as diapers, wipes, formula, pacifiers, blankets, towels, a book for each child and educational materials for the new Mothers to gain the skills they need to help their new child get the best start possible.
I look forward to the next volunteer opportunity and want to say a heartfelt thank you to all of the ladies for your hard work and, more importantly, your friendship.