Baby shower gift idea

When there are children and neither parent has a full-time job, providing for them can be a challenge.

Arvie Vaulx Jr. and his longtime girlfriend Cherrlynn Branch have been struggling to provide for their children 7-year-old Arvie Vaulx III, 4-year-old Princess Cheri Lynn, 18-month-old Chip and 2-month- old Daniel Vaulx.

Recently, they received what they termed "a gift from the heart" thanks to the Community Baby Shower.

The Community Baby Shower is a one-day event where people are asked to donate new baby items such as formula, diapers, baby clothes, bedding and health products.

The event was started by WTMJ-TV (Channel 4) three years ago, when reporter Susan Kim was approached by a non-profit agency with the idea of doing something for babies born into crisis situations, said Gregg Schraufnagel, the on-air marketing manager.

After doing some research, Schraufnagel learned that a television station in Madison hosted a community baby shower, and his station copied the idea.

Channel 4 partnered with Jewel-Osco for the drop-site locations and Milwaukee's Social Development Commission distributed the donations to families in need, Schraufnagel said.

"We only have the baby shower for one day because we don't want people to think of it as just another barrel at the store. It's a special event for people who can't afford baby items. . . . These things aren't cheap," Schraufnagel said.

Each year for one day people in Milwaukee, Kenosha, Racine, Washington, Waukesha and Ozaukee counties are asked to donate to the baby shower.

The donations stay in the county in which they're collected and are distributed to organizations that provide assistance to families in need.

La Causa Inc.'s Family Resource Center, 804 W. Greenfield Ave., is one organization that receives some of the proceeds from the baby shower. La Causa offers early childhood services, social and child- welfare services and resources to help families and children in crisis. The Resource Center offers parenting workshops, counseling and food banks.

The Vaulx-Branch family began using La Causa's services in January and said La Causa is like no other organization they've turned to for help.

"We got sleepers, diapers, baby shampoo and soap, and blankets," Arvie Vaulx Jr. said.

Vaulx said he had to do odd jobs like shoveling snow to pay for his baby's diapers.

"I cut my thumb, and I couldn't (shovel) this past week. So when I received the diapers from the baby shower, it was God-sent," he said.

He works part time at an estate store earning $5 an hour; his girlfriend recently enrolled in the W-2 program so the family received $672 a month in cash assistance plus food stamps. They are grateful for the assistance, but it leaves the family with just $172 after they pay rent.

"I'm trying to provide for a family of six, and it's hard. When we received these items, we were so excited. They mentioned they had some things for me. . . . I didn't expect the items to be as nice and as much," Arvie Vaulx Jr. said.

Claudia Pacheco, 20, also received items donated in the baby shower. She moved to Milwaukee from Mexico seven months to ago be with her husband. She speaks no English, but through a translator she said, "It is great that people help out other people, and hopefully they will continue to do this."

Pacheco received a much-needed bumper pad for her 5-month-old daughter, Natalie, among other items. Her husband works full time, but his pay does not provide nearly enough to fully support the family.

"It is better now (that we've received the items). I was really happy when I got them. The diapers will last me about three weeks," Pacheco said.

Pacheco thanked the people who donated to help people like herself. "There are a lot of people like me who need the additional help. We are all grateful," she said.

This is La Causa's second year participating in the Community Baby Shower. The majority of its clients need some type of assistance, said Kelly Sonnenberg, a youth and family worker at La Causa.

"We are so happy to have this type of help after the holiday season. Our clients are continually stretched for things. The donations we receive probably help about 100 families."

Schraufnagel said the baby shower is planned to be an annual event because it meets the needs of the community.

"People want to give. Each year we've done this, the donations have increased. There is a need for this, and thankfully the community is generous," Schraufnagel said.

LA CAUSA FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER

Address: 804 W Greenfield Ave. Milwaukee WI 53204

Phone/Fax: (414) 647-5971, (414) 647-4847

Mission: To provide children, youth and families with quality, comprehensive services to nurture healthy family life and enhance community stability.

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"Faces of Hope" focuses on people in the Milwaukee area who need a hand and the agencies that are helping them. Ideas? Call: (414) 224- 2318 or e-mail: hope@journalsentinel.com

Copyright 2005, Journal Sentinel Inc. All rights reserved. (Note: This notice does not apply to those news items already copyrighted and received through wire services or other media.)

Copyright 2005 Journal Sentinel Inc. Note: This notice does not apply to those news items already copyrighted and received through wire services or other media
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