Community Baby Shower helps provide for essential needs

By Ian Swaby
| 9:45 a.m. April 28, 2024

Alexander Simon, 1, makes his way across the floor in the Diaper Derby.

Sarasota
Neighbors

The Baby Shower by Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota County was more than a chance to celebrate young ones — although it was that, as toddlers crawled and walked across the floor in the “Diaper Derby.”

Held April 27 at Robert L. Taylor Community Complex, the event brought together nonprofits serving the local community to present their services to pregnant women, new and expecting mothers and their families.

Vendors like First 1,000 Days Suncoast, Children First, Early Learning Coalition, Sarasota Medical Pregnancy Center and others were present, with many bilingual representatives in attendance.

Some attendees even left with gifts they didn't anticipate, as each family was provided a ticket for the raffle, which featured gifts from participating organizations, with the grand prize gifts provided by Kiwanis Club of Sarasota.

“I absolutely love this event,” said Shon Ewens, executive director of Healthy Start Coalition. “It's my favorite one of the year because it brings all of our community partners together, and we realize that we're not competing against each other, that we're all working together for our pregnant moms, babies, kids and families in our community, and this is a great opportunity for clients to see all the other resources that are available to them.”

Mariely Rodriguez, Julio Pinto and Adaline Pinto, 1

Maria Lavy browses the children's books on offer.

Harley Cid gets engaged in a coloring activity.

Alisia Dixon and Wyatt Dixon, 1, at the HealthFit Moms in Motion table by Sarasota Memorial Hospital

Marla Doss, president of the Kiwanis Foundation and Mike Ward, the most recent past president of the Kiwanis Club of Sarasota.

Helen Kuenzner paints the nails of Arianna Vilchez, 7.

Valentina Lopez, 2, and Dylan Lopez, 6, entertain themselves by the room's stage.

Stefanny Leon of Sarasota Medical Pregnancy Center talks with Sierra Smith and Logan Sylvia.

Calico Becker, 1, enjoys playtime while at the event.

Healthy Start Sarasota board member Dr. Paul Leichter and associate executive director Patricia McMahon.

Calico Becker, 1, and Kahina Aridod Ngwa, 1, play ball together.

author

Ian Swaby

Ian Swaby is the Sarasota neighbors writer for the Observer. Ian is a Florida State University graduate of Editing, Writing, and Media and previously worked in the publishing industry in the Cayman Islands.