Connie Vaughan
What do National Armed Forces Day (May 21, 2022) and 31 Arizona military babies have in common? On May 21, the Caring Hearts and Hands Club of Quail Creek (CHHQC) celebrated a Star-Spangled Baby Shower with the 162nd Wing of the Air National Guard in Tucson for 31 babies, soon to be the newest members of the Guard family. With close to 80 people in attendance—expectant mothers, their husbands or significant others, and additional family members—CHHQC delivered a baby shower extraordinaire!
These well-deserving military families were selected by 162nd Wing based on their financial need. CHHQC wanted to make sure that these babies’ needs were well covered. Each baby received: a new stroller (a monetary gift from American Legion Post 131); a handmade diaper bag stuffed with handmade baby essentials; a mom’s handmade bag with supporting mommy products; and a large laundry basket stuffed with brand-new baby clothes, receiving blankets, more baby products, and a handmade quilt, all lovingly put together by the members of CHHQC. Additionally, CHHQC worked with the following organizations to provide a bag of 300 diapers (courtesy of Diaper Bank of Southern Arizona), a $50 grocery card for each family (courtesy of Operation Homefront), enrollment in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (gifting books free of charge to children from birth to age five), and a baby shopping cart seat (courtesy of Q & A Group, LLC).
Wait, there is more! Baby shower games were played, and each expectant family received prizes ranging from baby bathtubs to Diaper Genies, along with baby item gift baskets. Finally, each family received seven tickets for large raffle items, and seven lucky winners went home with prizes, including a Pack ‘n Play, highchair, handmade christening gown or suit (made by Sue Ann Obremski), a cross-country baby backpack for hiking, a beautiful crib-size handmade quilt (designed and quilted by Quail Creek Quilt Covey), and a diaper cake containing toys and money.
CHHQC wants to thank the generous and thoughtful Quail Creek residents for their help and support over the past six months with monetary donations and gifts in kind. Collectively, we have let our underserved military families know that they are appreciated and supported.