Dear Editor: On behalf of Center for Community-Early Learning Program, we would like to thank the community of Sitka for making our first Community Baby Shower a huge success!
More than 100 people participated in the event at Harrigan Centennial Hall last Saturday, Nov. 22. This event was made possible through a statewide grant from Alaska Early Childhood Network in partnership with the Sitka Tribe of Alaska, and various local organizations: Sitka Moose Lodge, Sitka Elks Club, Sea Mart Quality Foods, AC Lakeside, LFS Marine Supplies, Tongass Threads, Alaska Computer and Office Supply Center, Harrigan Centennial Hall, Old Harbor Books, Salvation Army, Sitka Swirls, Harry Race, White Elephant, Sitka Work and Rugged Gear Store, Tanya Howard, Kari Sagel, Moira McBride, Laura Humphreys, Jaclyn Young and Kristy Winter. A big shoutout to our community resources in attendance: Sitka Imagination Library, Baby Raven Reads, Sitka Tribe of Alaska Relative and In-Home Child Care Program, SEARHC-Infant Massage, WIC, Public Health and Early Learning Program.
Thank you to the National Honor Society students from both Sitka High School and Mt. Edgecumbe High School who helped with set-up, clean-up and for the duration of the event. We were amazed at the turnout and were happy to see smiling faces go home with baby gift bags, diapers, resources, baby clothes, baby food and baby equipment.
Congratulations to all the expecting families and families with newborns in Sitka!
Erika Apathy, Santanna Sumauang and Lisa Hodges
