The “World’s Greatest Baby Shower” will return on Friday, January 27 to provide helpful information and resources to new parents and soon-to-be parents in Marion County.
The free event will be held in two sessions at the Kingdom Revival Church, which is located at 3318 E Silver Springs Boulevard in Ocala. The first session will take place from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., and the second session will follow from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The “World’s Greatest Baby Shower” is an annual event that is organized and hosted by the Healthy Start Coalition of North Central Florida. The event is also co-sponsored by AdventHealth Ocala, the Early Learning Coalition of Marion County, Suncoast Credit Union, and multiple local service organizations.
This year’s event will return to in-person attendance instead of being drive-thru. It is free for parents who are expecting a child or parents with children who are 12 months old or younger.
During the event, each family will receive educational information while learning about various community resources. Participating families could also win prizes that include cribs, umbrella strollers, baby bathtubs, play yards, toys, clothing, car seats, playmats, and more.
The Florida Department of Health in Marion County (DOH-Marion) will participate in the event with representatives from several departments in attendance, including Healthy Start, Safe Kids, WIC, and Family Planning.
According to DOH-Marion, the Healthy Start program is available to pregnant women and women with children who are up to 3 years old. The program is free for qualified families and provides education about childbirth, breastfeeding, and parenting, among other topics.
Healthy Start also offers resource information, case management, and care coordination services to improve birth outcomes and decrease infant mortality. Healthy Start staff members provide individualized care by visiting families in their homes and virtually.
For more information about the Healthy Start program, visit the Florida Department of Health in Marion County’s website or call 352-644-2717.