Imagine giving birth to a baby in a new town while your spouse is deployed serving our country. It's a reality for many expectant military wives. That's why a San Diego-based organization is honoring these brave women by throwing them a baby shower. And they're asking for the public's support.
Military mom, Kimberly Felshaw, founded Operation Showers of Appreciation. The organization helps ease the transition to motherhood by hosting baby showers for military moms who otherwise may not get one.
"It's a way for the military families in this area to know that their community does support them and care for them," Felshaw said.
Felshaw was inspired after others generously supported her through the birth and then death of a child with a terminal illness. "So we can take a lot of that stress off of what they endure when having a child based on what we went through and everything is in honor of our daughter," she said.
On Saturday September 19, nine local moms will be the guests of honor at a baby shower to be held at Grace Episcopal church in San Marcos.
"To let them know they're loved and supported and people they haven't met love them and support them. And we thank them for their service and the sacrifice they've given," Reverend Dave Marshall said.
All of the gifts for these deserving mothers are donated -- and they need more, everything from diapers to car seats.
"It's amazing what they do. It's touching and it makes you cry. It's outstanding what they do," said Jamie McCrea, a military wife who was helped by Operation Showers of Appreciation when she was pregnant with twins.
McCrea is married to a U.S. marine based at Camp Pendleton he was deployed when their son Collin was born. When Jamie McCrea found out she was pregnant with twins she wasn't sure how they'd afford it.
"It was completely overwhelming especially since my first son wasn't even a year old yet," she said.
Her twins, a boy and a girl, were born in March.
Operation Showers of Appreciation has helped nearly 300 expectant military families in Southern California since the Operation began in 2006. The organization hosts at least five showers a year for up to 50 moms at a time. Most events are held in San Diego County.
To donate or find out more visit the Grace Episcopal Church website, Grace San Marcos or Operation Showers of Appreciation.
