SAFFORD — The plan for Friday’s Community Baby Shower at the Safford City-Graham County Library was to hand out items for about two hours.
Within about 40 minutes, there were no more items to give away.
“It went a lot quicker than what we thought. They started lining up before 9:30 a.m. (and) we didn’t start until 10,” said Library Director Victoria Silva. “It’s been great; people have been excited to have the things that we’re giving out.”
The event, sponsored by First Things First, was in support of new parents, giving them access to information about available services — including nutrition and breastfeeding, child safety, development and more — as well as free items every new parent needs.
Parents received for each child a tote bag from First Things First that contained information about Early Headstart, a handmade quilt from The Linus Project in Tucson and a book from the library.
The GFWC Woman’s Club of Safford raised more than $1,000 in one day in order to purchase 3,420 diapers, which were handed out in packets of 70. And Canyonlands distributed formula.
Each parent was also entered into a raffle for the grand prize, a pack and play donated by Rex OBGYN.
Despite the limitations on gatherings being lifted by the governor the day before, the event was conducted via drive-through in the library’s parking lot.
“We would have had to have all the vendors (alter their process), so we just figured we would go forward with what we’ve got planned,” Silva said.
The library is preparing for in-person activities though, with Storytime in the Park beginning in April in Safford’s Glenn Meadows Park on Tuesdays at 11 a.m. and Thatcher Park on Thursdays at 11 a.m.
Plus Silva said the library should be back to normal in-person operations by May.
