Today Not Tomorrow’s Community Baby Shower
Showering them with affection
Showering them with affection
By Jonathan Gramling
In the last four years for which data is available, the infant mortality rates for
African American and Euro-American babies have become virtually the same in
Madison and Dane County. While the causes of the decline in African American
infant mortality are still being determined, it would not be surprising if several
community-based efforts to provide pre-natal care started in the 1990s and early
2000s are contributing to these positive trends.
One such community-based effort is Today Not Tomorrow, Inc.’s (TNT)
Community Baby Showers. Back in 2000, Katy Sai, then an anchor for WISC-
TV3, received a lot of gifts during her very public pregnancy. She called TNT’s
Betty Banks. “She wanted to do something so that women in the community who
may not have ever had a baby shower could receive some gifts,” Banks said out at
the Lussier Community Education Center where TNT held a Community Baby
Shower in May. “She didn’t know how to distribute them. She was going to make a
call to the community for items and then she wanted me to figure out a way to
get them to people.”
Banks responded with the concept of the Community Baby Shower. “The
program really focuses on babies and young toddlers up to two years old,” Banks
said. “This year, we had babies mainly up to a year. We have drawings for prizes. In the early years, we played
games. But it got a little bit unmanageable to play the games. We ask questions such as ‘Who came from the
longest distance,’ and they may get a prize. Everyone puts their names in a basket and we draw. We gave away
a crib, high chair, exerciser for little babies and a baby bathtub. Everyone walks away with a baby bag that has
items for their baby such as lotion, shampoo, sleepers, diapers, wipes and blankets.”
The beauty of the baby showers is that it blends a fun social event with the expertise of local health care
providers. For instance, on this occasion, Doris Franklin and Hershey Barnett Bridges from Madison-Dane County
Public Health were on hand to provide information about breastfeeding and other vital information that is
important for keeping infants healthy. Jeanne Erickson was also there to provide information about early
childhood development.
While the expertise may be professional, Banks emphasized that everyone volunteers for this event because
they really do care about the mothers and their babies. “They need to know that there are many women who
really do support them in this community,” Banks said. And that showering of affection is just as important as the
gifts that every mother receives.
games. But it got a little bit unmanageable to play the games. We ask questions such as ‘Who came from the
longest distance,’ and they may get a prize. Everyone puts their names in a basket and we draw. We gave away
a crib, high chair, exerciser for little babies and a baby bathtub. Everyone walks away with a baby bag that has
items for their baby such as lotion, shampoo, sleepers, diapers, wipes and blankets.”
The beauty of the baby showers is that it blends a fun social event with the expertise of local health care
providers. For instance, on this occasion, Doris Franklin and Hershey Barnett Bridges from Madison-Dane County
Public Health were on hand to provide information about breastfeeding and other vital information that is
important for keeping infants healthy. Jeanne Erickson was also there to provide information about early
childhood development.
While the expertise may be professional, Banks emphasized that everyone volunteers for this event because
they really do care about the mothers and their babies. “They need to know that there are many women who
really do support them in this community,” Banks said. And that showering of affection is just as important as the
gifts that every mother receives.