‘It’s Part Of Community Resiliency': Neighborhood Nonprofit Organizes First Community Baby Shower

Rain or shine this Saturday, dozens of Ocean View-Merced Heights-Ingleside families will walk or drive up to the Catholic Charities parking lot on Broad Street for the neighborhood’s first community baby shower.

OMI Cultural Participation Project Executive Director Maurice Rivers originally intended to provide gift bags of baby food and diapers for 30 expectant parents and their babies when planning the baby shower.

However, community-based organization leaders have been calling him to include more. Now 50 families will participate.

“Families need resources during the pandemic,” Rivers told the Ingleside Light. “We need this in the OMI. We have been underfunded and under-resourced for the last 30 years.”

Rivers, who plans to make the baby shower an annual event, had the idea to organize it after learning community baby showers were successful elsewhere in San Francisco.

“It’s part of community resiliency,” he said.

The baby shower is supported by the Mission YMCA, OMI Community Collaborative, Catholic Charities and District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safai.

Rivers said donations will be accepted in the form of cash, checks, diapers and baby food during the event which will run from 12:00 – 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 20.

How to Support

Donate: Cash, checks, diapers and baby food
Time: 12:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Date: Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021
Location: 50 Broad St.
For more information, contact OMICPP Executive Director Maurice Rivers at (415) 729-3658 or jumpstreet1983@gmail.com.