Community Baby Shower And Resource Fair Returns June 27 With Expanded Resources For Families

LANDOVER, Md. — Expecting parents, new parents and families with young children will have access to free diapers, health resources, community support and family-focused giveaways when the third annual Community Baby Shower and Resource Fair returns Saturday, June 27.

Hosted by MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center in partnership with Clinton Baptist Church, the free event will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Prince George’s Sports & Learning Complex, located at 8001 Sheriff Road, Landover, Md.

Now in its third year, the Community Baby Shower and Resource Fair has continued to grow, expanding its offerings while connecting families with organizations and services designed to support healthy pregnancies, infant care and early childhood development. More than 45 community partners are expected to participate, providing information, resources and direct support to families throughout the region.

Every family attending the event will receive free diapers and wipes while supplies last and will be entered into drawings for essential baby items, including car seats, Pack ’n Plays, strollers and themed gift baskets.

Among the participating organizations is the Maryland Diaper Bank, a Waldorf-based nonprofit that helps families access one of the most basic — and often overlooked — necessities of raising a child. The organization will distribute diapers and wipes during the event while raising awareness about diaper insecurity, an issue affecting families across Maryland.

New this year is the “Dad Den,” a dedicated space to connect fathers and father figures with resources, support and one another. The area will also feature blood pressure and glucose screenings, car seat safety inspections and fresh produce giveaways.

The event also marks the first anniversary of the Prince George’s County Healthy Start Program, a federally supported initiative aimed at improving maternal and infant health outcomes by expanding access to healthcare, education and community-based support during pregnancy and for up to two years postpartum.

Admission is free and families are encouraged to preregister, though walk-ins are welcome.

MedStar Health Expands Family Support Through Community Partnerships

Charmaine Ivey, director of Population and Community Health at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center, said MedStar’s participation in the Community Baby Shower and Resource Fair developed from a community health needs assessment that identified maternal and child health as a priority concern for Prince George’s County residents. She said hospital staff were also seeing growing requests for assistance related to food insecurity, diaper insecurity and social services. In response, MedStar partnered with Clinton Baptist Church to create an event that would connect families with resources and support.

“One of the needs that bubbled up to the top is maternal and child health,” Ivey said. “We were already seeing the needs — food insecurity, diaper insecurity and social services.”

Ivey said they initially hoped 100 people would attend the first event three years ago but were surprised when more than 400 families participated. The success led MedStar to pursue federal funding through the Healthy Start Enhance program, creating the Prince George’s County Healthy Start Program to provide year-round support, education and resources for families from pregnancy through a child’s first 18 months.

“In the first year, we had over 400 families. We did the baby shower again. We had over 600 families attend,” Ivey said. “We’re in year three now, and we’re even more excited. We moved to the sports and learning complex in Landover, Maryland, and now we have over 900 people registered.”

This year’s event will feature approximately 45 vendors and expanded partnerships addressing food insecurity, diaper insecurity, legal assistance, mental health resources and other social services. In addition to established partners, the Maryland Diaper Bank joins the event for the first time and will help address diaper insecurity among participating families.

“We have social services, we have health department services, we have women, infant, and children services, we have community organizations that are there,” Ivey said. “Hungry Harvest that supports food insecurity, diaper insecurity, legal resources and fatherhood support groups.”

Ivey said MedStar views community outreach as an extension of healthcare, emphasizing that hospitals should engage with families before they arrive in a medical crisis. Through programs such as PG Healthy Start, the hospital seeks to address social determinants of health and reduce disparities affecting mothers and children.

Clinton Baptist Church Builds Community Through Service

Pastor Colin Pugh of Clinton Baptist Church said the Community Baby Shower and Resource Fair began as a vision to connect young parents with the resources and support many families lack after the birth of a child. Drawing on his own experience as a young father, Pugh approached MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center about creating a community baby shower that would provide both immediate assistance and long-term support.

“This event was my vision, my vision for our community. A lot of our parents don’t have a village,” Pugh said. “With these resources and supplies that we can give to them, not only the day of the event, but also after this event is over, it’s just monumental for them to grow and be successful.”

Pugh said the event goes beyond distributing diapers and baby supplies by helping families connect with healthcare providers, social services and educational resources. He recalled helping a teenage expectant mother who had not received prenatal care and did not know when her baby was due. Through the event’s partnerships, she was connected with healthcare providers and support services.

“Last year we had a young lady come, and she was around 18 or 19 years old. She had not had an exam, and she did not even know when her baby was due,” Pugh said. “I was able to connect her with doctors to help walk her through the process.”

Pugh said the partnership between Clinton Baptist Church and MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center has expanded well beyond the baby shower to include health fairs, prostate screenings, mammograms and senior wellness programs. He described the collaboration as vital to improving health outcomes and increasing access to services throughout the community.

“Our partnership is solid, a great partnership,” Pugh said. “This partnership that we have with MedStar is vital — it is needed for our community.”

Pugh also emphasized that churches have a responsibility to address practical needs alongside spiritual needs, arguing that faith organizations should provide resources, education, healthcare connections and community support while helping families thrive. 

“Our church is a church not in the community, but of the community,” Pugh said. “We have to look out for the practical side, because people are holistic, they have these other physical things that they need to help them thrive as individuals.”

Dad Den Highlights Fathers’ Role In Family Support

A major addition this year is the “Dad Den,” a dedicated space for fathers and male caregivers. The area will provide resources, giveaways, books and support opportunities while recognizing the important role fathers play in pregnancy, parenting and child development.

“We asked what we could do differently as a program to make sure that we highlight fathers,” Ivey said. “We put the dads separate so they can feel seen and supported throughout that process. Fathers are involved throughout every stage as that child grows.”

Pastor Pugh said the addition was inspired by conversations with fathers and a desire to ensure they feel included in a community event that often focuses primarily on mothers and children.

“It was important to me as a dad, a young dad, that we have a Dad Den,” Pugh said. “The dads are important, very important in a child’s life.”

The Dad Den will feature father-focused speakers, mentorship opportunities, interactive activities, games, discussions and giveaways specifically for dads. Pugh said they plan to provide books, diapers and other resources that fathers can take home to support their families.

“We’re going to give items to the dads as well, so they can give to their child,” Pugh said.

Pugh said the goal is not only to connect fathers with resources, but also to encourage them to remain actively involved in their children’s lives.

“If the dad is in that child’s life, the child has a greater chance to be successful,” Pugh said.

Maryland Diaper Bank Expands Support For Local Families

Shelly Tucker founded the Maryland Diaper Bank after witnessing firsthand how difficult it was for families to afford diapers, even when other forms of assistance were available. Inspired initially by the struggles of a friend raising a child without access to diaper assistance programs, Tucker spent years observing the ongoing need before launching the organization in 2018.

“I was just trying to figure out how it is that there’s still no subsidy for diapers — it’s an essential for a baby,” Tucker said. 

What began as a small operation run from a room inside her home has grown into a regional nonprofit serving Southern Maryland, Prince George’s County and surrounding communities. 

“We started in our house, one room in the house that was dedicated to diapers,” Tucker said. “In 2022, we had the opportunity to move into the warehouse space, and here we are, about 2.4 million diapers later.”

Tucker said diaper insecurity is often overlooked in rural and suburban communities because many people assume need only exists in urban areas or among families below a specific income threshold. She noted that rising diaper costs have expanded the impact of diaper insecurity across a wider range of households. 

“Southern Maryland is a lot of times overlooked because we are more in a rural and suburban area,” Tucker said. “I think that there’s just a misconception about where the need lies.”

The Maryland Diaper Bank currently works with 24 partner organizations, including churches, pantries and Judy Centers throughout Southern Maryland and Prince George’s County, creating local distribution hubs where families can access diapers and other essentials. 

The June 27 Community Baby Shower and Resource Fair will mark the diaper bank’s first partnership with MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center’s PG Healthy Start initiative and Clinton Baptist Church. Tucker said the organization plans to distribute 50 diapers per child and wipes to attending families while introducing new parents to available resources.

“We are so excited about our partnership with MedStar and PG Healthy Start,” Tucker said. “Our goal there is to first let families know that we do exist, that they are not alone.”

Fast Facts About The Community Baby Shower & Resource Fair

• When: Saturday, June 27, 2026
• Time: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Where: Prince George’s Sports & Learning Complex, 8001 Sheriff Road, Landover, Md.
• Cost: Free

Who Should Attend: Expecting parents, new parents, families with children age 5 and younger, caregivers and anyone planning to start or grow a family.

Why Attend: The event is designed to connect families with resources, healthcare providers and support networks that can continue assisting parents long after the event ends.

Registration: Preregistration is encouraged on Eventbrite, but walk-ins are welcome.

Learn More: Visit PG Healthy Start through MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center for registration and event information.

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