2022 United Way Community Baby Shower

United Way of Buffalo & Erie County has kicked off their 13th Annual Community Baby Shower. 

Each year, 5,000 babies in Erie County are born into families who are struggling to get by. United Way's Community Baby Shower provides critical items to mothers who need them most.

One mom, Dianna, reflects on the early days of parenting her newborn. "The choices that I saw for myself back then was like 'well, should I put gas in the car or take a bus, or buy my daughter diapers?'" It was stressful. A Community Baby Shower baby bundle arrived for Dianna right on time. Knowing she didn't have to worry about diapers and wipes for even a few days was a big relief. She remembers thinking, "okay, I can do this ... I got this."

"A lot of times women are excited about their pregnancy," says Sherrell from Buffalo Prenatal-Perinatal Network, one of the shower's distribution partners. "They get a baby shower, get people to come and bring things for them and the child. And our clients don't often have those experiences."

By providing critical baby items like diapers, wipes, board books, digital thermometers and clothing, the Community Baby Shower gives more families a good start—and that builds a stronger community for us all. 

Now through May 12, find everything you need to host a baby shower, donate critical baby items or a virtual baby bundle, or create cards of encouragement for new moms at uwbec.org/babyshower. 

The 2022 United Way Community Baby Shower is sponsored by John R. Oishei Children's Hospital and Citi, with media sponsors WIVB and The Buffalo News.