From the February 15, 2007 issue of The Register

Girl Scout hosts baby shower to benefit A Baby Center in Hyannis

Community service has long been a major principle of scouting, and Dennis Cadette Girl Scout Sarah Martin is no stranger to either. For more than half of her 13 years, Sarah has been involved in Girl Scouts, and for the past several years, she has, when time permits, volunteered at A Baby Center in Hyannis with friends from the Dennis Union Church.

Sarah is among a half-dozen girls from Cadette Troop 679 working toward her Silver Award, the second-highest achievement in Girl Scouting. The final step, after completing stringent requirements over almost two years, is a community service project. "My scout leader, Jane Hargreaves, suggested that I take on a tea and baby shower because she knew I had volunteered there and really cared about the Cape families with babies and toddlers who go there for help," Sarah explained.

An eighth-grader at Lighthouse Charter Middle School in Orleans, Sarah is making time in her busy schedule to coordinate her efforts with Dottie Bradley at the Dennis Senior Center and is recruiting members of her troop to help decorate the room and serve tea. "The live entertainment is music by the Lighthouse Charter School Select Chorus, of which I'm a member, under the direction of Margaret Bossi," Sarah said. "We'll also have someone from A Baby Center talk about their work and answer questions." Those attending the shower will also be invited to play games like Baby Price is Right. "The guests will all get a sheet listing baby-related items, and they will have to guess how much each item costs," Sarah said. "Whoever guesses closest on these items will win a small prize, and the actual items on the sheet will be donated to A Baby Center."

A Baby Center's mission is to aid needy children living on the Cape and Islands by supplementing critical basic needs to ensure good health and safety. The non-profit organization, directed by Mary Pat Pierson of Mashpee, flourishes through many people's efforts and donations. A Baby Center serves women who are at least seven months pregnant or parents who have a child or foster child under the age of three. To qualify to receive free clothing, diapers, baby toiletries, equipment and bedding every 30 days, family income must be at or below federal guidelines for the Women, Infants & Children Supplemental Nutrition Program. "Every month, families of 500 children under age three visit us for help," said A Baby Center Director Mary Pat Pierson. "That means we need 500 packages of diapers and 500 boxes of baby wipes a month. If each mother takes 10 outfits, that's 5,000 outfits a month that we're giving away. A lot of churches and organizations have held showers for us - we could use something like what Sarah's doing every week. This is so huge for us, so win-win."

Anyone who cannot attend the Baby Shower & Tea Party but who wishes to help A Baby Center may drop off donations at the Dennis Senior Center until Friday, Feb. 23. A Baby Center is at 81 Willow Ave, Hyannis.