By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
New and expecting parents are welcome to attend the Barton County Health Department's Community Baby Shower Thursday, June 23 at Jack Kilby Square. In just its second year, the event has nearly doubled from 16 vendors last year to approximately 30 vendors this year.
"We have about 30 different vendors and partners that will be there in our community," said Barton County Health Director Karen Winkleman. "We will be doing a lot of educational material for new and expectant parents, support people, and community service providers. We have some physicians whose offices will be represented there also."
The baby shower will feature many educational demonstrations, including safe sleep and car seat safety. And there's plenty of fun stuff as well, including giveaways and a daddy relay.
"It's wonderful to see our community come together, and so many partners from our community seeing the value in having a community baby shower to reach out to our families in our community - just to represent and let them know all of us are here," said Deb Higgins, RN at the health department. "We're here because we care."
The Community Baby Shower will take place from 4-7 p.m. at Jack Kilby Square in downtown Great Bend.
Thursday also marks the opening of "Camp BCHD." From 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 23, the health department will be promoting back-to-school vaccinations for teens with another fun event at the 1300 Kansas Ave facility.
The health department began the teen program last year in an effort to make getting vaccinated fun. Last year's theme was a beach, and this year's theme will be a teen camp, complete with to-go S'mores kits.
Teens can receive all necessary vaccinations for the upcoming school year, all the while enjoying games and snacks. Teens who get vaccinated will also be entered into a drawing for a grand prize.