Student United Way at UF will be participating in the World’s Greatest Baby Shower, held each year by the Kiwanis Club of Gainesville.  Classes on dental hygiene for children, breast-feeding, how to help babies sleep on their back and disciplining children without violence, along with five other classes, will be held for new parents and even expecting mothers who are unsure or unaware of how to best care for their children.  Many items are also given away to help new families on their journey.

In response to a recent spike in infant deaths due to unsafe sleeping conditions and parents sleeping in bed with children, Student United Way has taken action to work on a project that will provide inexpensive crib alternatives to new and expecting mothers.  ”Moses Baskets”, built from a laundry basket and other simple materials, are a cheap, portable, safe way to address this issue.  Members were responsible for everything from fundraising, to pricing and purchasing materials, to building the baskets and sewing the cushions.  The culmination of this project will take place April 17th when students deliver Moses Baskets to families at the World’s Greatest Baby Shower.

To encourage future groups to get involved, Student United Way is also creating a how-to video tutorial that will empower other groups to take up this very worthy cause.

Big thanks to Kiwanis Club of Gainesville, Jim Stringfellow of Partnership for Strong Families and Jennifer Tragash of United Way of North Central Florida for guidance and support.

Students passed out Moses Baskets to local agencies and young mothers at the World's Greatest Baby Shower