By: Stephanie Stone
Sometimes, walking alongside a student mom can become a personal commitment. Fostering a community of support and being that village for a mom in need can make all the difference!
As a full-time working and evening student mom of two, I can attest to the importance of community in the most crucial moments of a young mom’s life. Throwing a community baby shower shows true support and love for moms in need while celebrating the life she will shortly bring into the world and preparing her for the next steps of parenting.
Four student groups in Florida took charge of loving and supporting moms, recently planning and hosting Standing With You Baby Showers for two student mothers in their communities.
Check out the inspiring stories of Florida students “Loving Them Both.”
Baby Shower for “Mama A” from Miami Dade Community College
A few months ago, I received a text from the Florida International University (FIU) and Miami Dade Community College (MDCC) students. They had been tabling with resources when they bumped into the boyfriend of a young mother, a student from MDCC who had just moved to the United States from Jamaica. She was planning to have an abortion the next day.
The pro-life student talked for a long time with the boyfriend and began sharing resources with him, eventually encouraging him to support Mama A in scheduling an ultrasound appointment at a Pregnancy Help Center (PHC). Mama A chose life, and the students have been walking alongside her ever since!
The students have become close friends with Mama A, texting and seeing her regularly and sharing the joy of her baby.
In late May, the students hosted a baby shower for Mama A and Baby G. Members of the Students for Life at FIU group gave her over 20 items, including hundreds of diapers of varying sizes, breastfeeding essentials, an organizing bedside cart for baby items, and more! The group played games and brought a homemade decorated cake.
Gifts from the baby shower
This celebration of Mama A and Baby G is a true testament to the importance of walking alongside student moms. Baby G is expected in June 2025, and the student group plans to continue to help as much as possible!
Baby Shower for Baby Iris and her Parents, Olivia and Sean, in Tampa
In another corner of Florida, University of South Florida (USF) Students for Life partnered with Stetson University’s Hatters for Life to host a Standing With You Baby Shower for a couple from Stetson University Law School. Olivia, who had just passed the bar, and Sean, who was still in law school, expect their baby girl, Iris, in July.
During this crucial moment in their lives, the student group wanted to show extra support to welcome their baby girl.
The Hatters for Life group helped plan and traveled over four hours to join the USF group in hosting this beautiful day. Together, the groups raised over $300 to purchase a wagon and filled it with gifts, including diapers, wipes, cute clothes, and other baby supplies. There was even a Pack and Play donated!
The group planned food, games, and festivities, along with material support, to celebrate baby Iris and her wonderful parents.
We are incredibly proud of the students in Florida for showing up this May and walking alongside student moms in need in their communities! SFLA’s Florida and Puerto Rico Regional Coordinator Kristen Marais shares this about her experience:
“Years ago, as a student, I helped host a baby shower on campus for a mom in need in my area. As the Regional Coordinator, I have had the honor to be involved in not just one but two baby showers in my region. Raising funds and supplies for these moms in need is essential and sets an example for other students nationwide to do the same.
It not only sets an example of what the pro-life movement is all about, but also where the heart of our movement is. It starts with moms and their babies. I am so proud of the students from my alma mater, the University of South Florida, for taking over my legacy in hosting the Tampa baby shower and my students from Stetson University, Miami Dade College, and Florida International University. What a blessing to share the fire for LIFE with those in my community and those across the Florida region!”
Host a Baby Shower in Your Community
Standing With You was proud to help host these showers with branded decor, planning guidance, and some material donations for each mama.
Our communities improve when we step up to “be the village” for student moms in need of support. If you know a local mom in need, please send her to www.StandingWithYou.org for local pregnancy help.
Additionally, if you feel so called to host her a baby shower, please reach out for guidance, planning help, and some Standing With You materials to help you! For more information, email [email protected].