FLORENCE – The third Tiny Cubs Community Baby Shower, sponsored by the Anderson
College of Nursing and Health Professions, is set for this weekend.

Designed for expectant moms in the Shoals, the event is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday in Harrison Hall at the University of North Alabama. It will also include a boot camp for siblings as they and their families prepare for the new baby’s arrival.

“I have a passion for promoting perinatal education to the community,” said Dr. Melissa DeFoor, assistant department chair of undergraduate programs in the College. “We are so excited to offer the community baby shower again this semester.

“We believe this event has impacted many perinatal women throughout our community.”

The free community event offers a way for mothers-to-be to learn about basic prenatal and baby care from senior-level nursing students, clinical supervisors, and college faculty.

“The community baby shower is an exceptional service-learning opportunity for ACONHP students,” said Dr. Tera Kirkman, interim dean of the college. “Students are able to share knowledge learned in the classroom to address the unique health care needs of individuals in our community.”

In addition to learning about basic care, participants are also able to win items, including car seats, pack ‘n’ plays, breast pumps, and more. As part of the Tiny Cubs Community Baby Shower, the ACONHP has partnered with several community organizations who also specialize in health care.

“The Tiny Cubs Community Baby Shower has been such a phenomenal experience,” said Dr. Ann-Marie Irons, assistant professor at the college. “Hearing the gratitude expressed by the expectant mothers as they receive baby care items and seeing them become more at ease while learning about resources and ways to care for themselves and their babies has been a highlight of my nursing career.”