Hospital throws baby shower for 100 expectant moms in Englewood

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A South Side hospital threw a giant baby shower Wednesday for more than 100 expectant moms.

St. Bernard Hospital in the city's Englewood neighborhood hosted the event. The pregnant women were treated to lunch, then they listened to speakers talk about baby safety. The women all took home gifts donated from stores and hospital staff.

"This is our first annual baby shower for our community, so it's for the Englewood community," said Evelyn Jones, of St. Bernard Hospital.

The gifts included strollers, carseats, baby walkers, diaper bags and clothes - all supplies that will come in handy for soon-to-be moms.

One of the expectant moms was 20-year old Keiyashi Jenkins, who is expecting a boy.

"It was excited to see all the other mothers and experience something for my first baby," Jenkins said.

St. Bernard sees hundreds of expectant moms annually. They started the Women's Wellness Clinic six years ago after realizing that 50 percent of those women did not have prenatal care.

Community outreach efforts have helped drop that number to 15 percent.

However, hospital staff realized many of their pregnant patients could not afford baby showers. So they stepped in to help contribute to a happy, healthy pregnancy.

"Every mom is going to walk away with at least one gift. Staff chipped in and donated gifts," Jones said.

Nicole Lloyd, 20, appreciates the help as she is expecting twins.

"It means a lot that they care and show appreciation toward the moms," Lloyd said.

The hospital received an overwhelming response to the baby shower. They put flyers up around the clinic and, at first, thought about 50 women would RSVP. More than 100 women attended on Wednesday and all went home with a gift.