February 24th, 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
​MEDIA CONTACT:
Christina Means
info@communityimpactlab.org
Inaugural “Community Baby Shower” Presented by Community Impact Lab, Sunday, March 4

SAN LEANDRO, Calif. (February 23, 2018) – On Sunday, March 4, Community Impact LAB (CIL), a non-profit organization focused on empowering women and families, creating positive change, and building strong communities, is hosting the first annual “Community Baby Shower” for 100 vulnerable new and expectant mothers. The celebration will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the San Leandro Boys and Girls Club.

Shower recipients have been invited through 40 Bay Area nonprofits and social service agencies. The women vary in their needs and experiences: they are homeless, newly resettled refugees, victims of domestic violence, undocumented youth, victims of trafficking, or socio-economically disadvantaged. However, they all have the shared experience of becoming a mother under challenging circumstances with little or no support and difficulty with acquiring needed resources for their new child. The Baby Shower serves to ease some of the burdens from the new parent, provide essential resources, and send the message that they are cared for by their community.  
“CIL parents and children have volunteered hundreds of hours collecting, sorting, and packaging over $50,000 worth of essential supplies to gift to new moms in the community that might not otherwise receive them. They do it because they believe that all mothers, no matter her circumstance, deserves to be celebrated and supported. If we can come together to lift women, especially during the transformative experience of entering motherhood, everyone benefits. ” said CIL’s Executive Officer, Xouhoa Bowen.

Through CIL Volunteering events, families engage in impactful service to others, better understand challenges in the community, and put empathy and compassion into practice. In turn, each mom at the Baby Shower will receive Lift Me Up gift boxes and access to a free store with clothing, maternity items, and baby gear. Thanks to the generosity of the San Leandro Rotary Foundation, the event will also include food, pampering stations, children’s activities and resource tables.  For more information about the Community Baby Shower or the CIL’s projects, please email  info@communityimpactlab.org, or visit www.communityimpactlab.org or www.facebook.com/communityimpactlab.

About Community Impact Lab
Community Impact LAB (CIL) is a San Leandro-based nonprofit organization that envisions a world where women and their abilities are valued, where work and life can be integrated, and where families act as a force for positive change. By removing barriers to progress, we empower everyone - especially mothers - to be able to live, give, and grow to their fullest potentials. Our projects leverage the generosity and skills of our members to address social, economic, and educational disparities in our communities, support parents and children through family-friendly opportunities, and empower women through workshops, skills training, and education initiatives. For additional information about the Community Impact Lab, visit www.communityimpactlab.org or www.facebook.com/communityimpactlab.