Military moms to be celebrated at West Dundee VFW
Baby bottles, strollers, diaper bags, and infant car seats.
Every expecting mother needs these items, but where does she obtain them if her life has been busy with military service in the past year?
That question will be answered on Jan. 30 at the West Dundee VFW Post, 117 S. First St., when auxiliary members host a baby shower for 25 expecting ex-service women. During it, the mothers-to-be will be treated and receive the essentials to greet their newborns into the world.
The party's goal is to take some of the stress off women who are trying to be reintroduced to civilian and family life.
"There's a lot of stress in finding jobs and dealing with pregnancies," said Diane Ahrens, VFW auxiliary president. "I know; I was one of them. I was coming out of the military in 1980 and expecting my first child."
So other women do not have to do the same scrambling, Ahrens and other auxiliary members are collecting donations for the military mothers. In the past two months, companies have stepped forward with discounted car seats and area groups, such as the Crafty Happy Hookers of McHenry County, have crocheted red, white and blue receiving blankets.
"The discounted car seats are much-needed items," Ahrens said. "They're expensive. Each one could cost $135. We received them for half the price."
Other donations from different donors include cribs, diaper bags and diapers. When put together, all of these essentials add up to hundreds of dollars that many of the mothers and their families cannot afford.
Women who are receiving prenatal medical care from Edward Hines Jr. and Jesse Brown veteran administration hospitals, who have been invited to the shower, will benefit from the community's generosity.
Ahrens came up with the idea for the shower after the Jess Brown VA hospital, in Chicago, sponsored house warming parties for male and female veterans who were homeless before finding apartments and houses.
People would drop off towels, pots and pans, and curtains at the hospital and Ahrens' business, Piece-A-Cake Bakery in East Dundee.
"I saw this and wondered why we couldn't do the same for pregnant veterans," she said. "They are also faced with needs and expenses and the community should support them."
The shower is not intended for homeless pregnant veterans, but some of them and their husbands have not found jobs since they were discharged from the military. The expenses connecting with expanded their families overwhelming.
"We want every expectant mother to leave the shower with a car seat, a diaper bag, and diapers. We have enough receiving blankets, but we need softer blankets and other items," she said.
Gift cards from national retailers, such as Wal-Mart and Target, are still needed. Also needed are diapers and new diaper bags.
People can donate bags in neutral colors so it would be appropriate for either gender, she said.
Donations can be dropped off at the bakery at 304 N. River St.
Also, any Dundee Township woman who is pregnant and has served in the U. S. military is invited to the shower. Before attending, call Ahrens at (847) 836-6703.
"In total, we are expecting 100 people to attend the shower. That will include the 25 expectant mothers and their families," she said. "We're hoping this will be an annual event. This year, we'll learn from it to see how it can be successful in coming years."