For CWC Annie Eakin and NEPA Jennifer “J.J.” Goldsberry, the Lawrence County Community Baby Shower offered the perfect opportunity to highlight NEP’s offerings for new moms.

Every year since 2018, Lawrence County’s new and expecting moms have been showered with gifts and resources from area social services groups like Ascension St. Vincent Dunn, the Lawrence County Breastfeeding Coalition, and CareSource. After 2020 forced cancellation, all hoped the Community Baby Shower would return in 2021. But as infection rates rose, organizers’ concerns grew.

After much brainstorming, planners found a solution: a drive-through baby shower. Annie, who serves Lawrence, Monroe, and Brown counties and helped plan the event, suggested providing the fresh ingredients for a meal, complete with an EatGatherGo.org recipe and a cooking video featuring J.J.

The team saw her vision. Annie helped to purchase, package, and distribute the groceries. Then she teamed with J.J. to create a video spotlighting J.J. introducing the Eat Smart Move More’s “My Plate” lesson as she prepared Lentil-Veggie Tacos and Annie’s PSE efforts. A link to the YouTube video was given to all of the moms.

Annie shared, “CWC/NEPA collaboration! I was so excited they (CareSource) agreed to purchase groceries for a meal instead of a box lunch! I hope that becomes an example for others!”

The successful event drew about 65 cars during a three-hour period. Afterwards, Annie spotlighted the event and J.J.’s classes in an article in the Bedford Times-Mail.