LOMA LINDA — Most are familiar with drive-thru coffee shops, drive-thru restaurants, even drive-thru car washes. Now comes a drive-thru baby shower.

To honor and support Veterans welcoming new babies into their families, VA Loma Linda Healthcare System is hosting its Third Annual “Operation Baby Shower.”

This year because of COVID-19 precautions in place, the Healthcare System will be hosting a first of kind RSVP Drive-Thru Baby Shower on June 10th and 12th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at VA Loma Linda Ambulatory Care Center on Redlands Blvd.

Some 80 Veteran families have RSVP’d for the baby shower. Each will receive at minimum a diaper bag, diapers, wipes, breast pump, milk storage bags, a sling or wrap, and car seat cover, as well as several other opportunity drawing items.

Through generous community donations, the opportunity drawing, will include hotel stays, strollers, highchairs, bouncers, gift baskets, gift cards and more. A total of approximately $23,000 total in gifts will be given away to our Veteran families.

The past two decades have seen unprecedented growth of the population of women Veterans coming to the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) for their care. There has been a 175% increase in the number of Women Veterans between 2000-2015. The number of deliveries paid for by VHA increased more than 14 times from 2000 to 2015.

California is home to nearly 145,000 women who served in our U.S. military. They are Veterans, family members, friends, business owners, professionals, community leaders, and advocates. Women Veterans served in every major U.S. conflict and in peacetime since our Revolutionary War.

 

 

Image Sources

  • Baby booties: Pixaby