Photo/Ed Karvoski Jr.
Marlborough – Geralyn Shultz, the children's librarian at the Marlborough Public Library, welcomed a roomful of new and expecting parents to the first Community Baby Shower, held April 12 in the Bigelow Auditorium.
“It's very important to read to your children often,” she said. “Let reading time be pleasurable. Your child will soon look forward to story times on your lap or when you'se snuggling in bed.”
Librarians were available to answer questions in English, Portuguese and Spanish. Representatives from organizations serving local families provided information.
Among the representatives was Linda Hughes, coordinator of the Parent Child Home Program (PCHP). Funded by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (MDEEC), the program sends trained visitors to families” homes in Clinton, Marlborough and the Nashoba district.
“It's a home-based literacy program for families with children between the ages of 16 months and four years,” she said. “We give free books and toys with educational worksheets that note different ways to help promote language.”
For information about PCHP, visit parent-child.org. Contact Hughes at 978-365-4217 or [email protected]. Eneida Maisonave of Shrewsbury is a bilingual visitor available for Spanish-speaking families in Marlborough.
Guests learned about the La Leche League of Greater Marlborough (LLLGM), which includes Hudson, Sudbury and Wayland, from Mary Ellen Gilligan.
“La Leche League is a nonprofit, nonsectarian, breastfeeding support and resource group,” she explained. “Trained mothers who have breastfed their own children offer information and support to pregnant and nursing moms.”
LLLGM offers telephone help from certified leaders and monthly meetings at the Lady of Fatima Church in Sudbury. For information, visit lllmarivt.org/?s=marlborough.
Representing the Together We Can Family Network (TWCFN) was Deb Clemons, a parent facilitator.
“I's telling everyone about the free workshops for parents and playgroups for children,” she relayed. “It's a great resource to meet other parents and kids in the area.”
Located at 624 Maple Street, Unit 2, in Marlborough, TWCFN provides free education and activities to families with children up to age 8 who live in Berlin, Boylston, Hudson, Leicester, Marlborough, Northborough, Shrewsbury, Southborough and Westborough. The program is administered by the Boroughs Family Branch YMCA with funding from the MDEEC. For information, visit twcfn.org or call 774-463-0214.
Shultz heard about the concept of a Community Baby Shower while attending a library conference and hopes to host the event again in the future.
“It's a great idea to let people in Marlborough know about all the community organizations that help families,” she said.
