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Parents and grandparents attend citywide baby shower
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Alica Fussell of Youngstown cradles her four-month-old grandson, Xavier, at the fifth annual baby shower at the Associated Neighborhood CentersÕ McGuffey Centre in Youngstown on Monday.
YOUNGSTOWN
As the mother of an 8-year-old daughter, Laytoya Mixon of Boardman knows what it’s like to raise a baby.
But Mixon, who’s 71/2-months pregnant, attended Monday’s fifth annual baby shower to get a refresher course.
“You can never learn too much,” she said.
Mixon was among about 70 parents and grandparents who attended the baby shower at the Associated Neighborhood Centers’ McGuffey Centre on Jacobs Road on Youngstown’s East Side.
Those attending the shower received free health, literacy, children’s safety and nutrition information from various sources including Akron Children’s Hospital, the Ohio Department of Public Safety and local doctors and agencies.
Also, each expectant mother and mothers of children 5 years old and younger received free baby items such as toys, baby seats, baby swings, diapers, bottles and clothes. All of the gifts were donated.
“It’s very important for mothers to take care of themselves and their children,” said Jennifer Miller, Associated Neighborhood’s executive director.
The event takes place on Martin Luther King Jr. Day because it fits with his emphasis on education and social justice, and it’s a day many people are available to attend, she said.
Shawntel Dotson of the city’s East Side attended Monday’s event with her 5-month-old son, Xyler.
“I want to learn how best to raise my child,” she said.
Alica Fussell, who also lives on the city’s East Side, was there with one of her four grandchildren, 4-month-old Xavier.
“This is my first time here,” she said. “If I had known it was here for four years before, I would have come. There is a lot of good information for young mothers. I wish there was something like this when I was young having kids.”
In addition to her four grandkids, Fussell has six children.
“If they have it next year, I’ll be here,” she said.
Nicole Adair of the city’s South Side also attended the event for the first time. She has three daughters, age 1, 3 and 4 years old.
“There’s always something new to learn,” she said.