Circle K to hold baby shower

The United Presbyterian Church will look like a nursery center Saturday as students and community members are encouraged to "shower" the location with diapers, baby formula, pacifiers, toys and other essential baby items.\nCircle K, an IU community service club with the mission to serve Bloomington through various programs and activities, will host the "community baby shower" from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the United Presbyterian Church, 1701 E. Second St. The baby items will eventually be given to Healthy Families, a national organization that provides support for parents.\nCircle K is a club found at 14 college campuses in Indiana. At IU, the 30 student members hold weekly meetings at 8 p.m. Tuesday nights in the Psychology Building. \n"Circle K provides the opportunity to get to know the community of Bloomington," said sophomore Elizabeth Ralph, vice president of IU's Circle K. "I know so much about this town because I've been out serving in the community."\nMembers pay $32 in dues each year, though students are not required to pay the dues to participate in the service activities. Nine students serve on the club board, which organizes projects ranging from food and clothing drives to a talent show at a local nursing home.\n"It's especially great for freshman to get out off campus and do something besides stare out their dorm room window," Ralph said. "Circle K has really helped me to make Bloomington my second home."\nSaturday's community baby shower is part of a series of projects this year called "Protecting Our Future, The Children of Indiana," created by Indiana Circle K Governor, senior Melissa Schmidt. Delegates from each Circle K chapter in the state elected Schmidt to the position of governor last spring. Her term of service ended March 31.\n"For the community baby shower to be a success in my book, it will raise awareness of Healthy Families' mission and leave the agency with additional resources with which to provide families," Schmidt said.\nOther Circle K chapters, including Ball State, Butler and the University of Indianapolis, have held community baby showers to benefit various shelters and organizations in their own communities. \n"This event is important because it helps us be able to give out resources to the families we serve. It's especially nice that the donated items will be new," said Vicky Sorensen, program manager at Monroe County's Healthy Families. "It's thrilling for a parent to get a new outfit for their child." \nHealthy Families provides free services to families that are expecting a child, ranging from providing the families with information, connecting them to needed resources and support, teaching them positive parenting skills or providing developmental screening for their children. Any family, regardless of income, wishing to partake of these resources is free to do so until their child reaches the age of five.\nIndiana is one of just a few states with a Healthy Families site in each county. In Monroe County, Healthy Families' 15 staff members currently serve 134 families.\n"We're looking forward to the shower on Saturday," Sorensen said. "We'll be happy with whatever turnout we get."\n-- Contact staff writer Jennifer Gunnels at jgunnels@indiana.edu.