“Showering” Military Moms with Love

More than 50 moms-to-be who are in the military, or whose partners are in the military, were invited to a Help for Our Heroes Baby Shower event held at the Joint Base McGuire- Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey on Nov. 2, 2024.

Moms-to-be were showered with gifts, including a baby monitor; baby blankets presented by Rona Kornfeld, Audrey Stahl and the Ladies of the Valley of Philadelphia; a thermometer; diapers; a box of toys; a travel system (stroller and infant car seat); and a $200 gift card from buybuyBABY.

The event included brunch, maternal and baby health information, raffles and shower games, with prizes and expressions of gratitude for attendees’ service.

A special tribute was given in memory of retired Col. Brother Harris Brooks, who spearheaded approximately 40 military baby showers for 15 years. Harris passed away earlier this fall. Harris’ daughter, Captain Jennifer Fell, said, “This event meant so much to my dad. I was on active duty when I had my two daughters. He felt every military mom should have a baby shower.”

Volunteers from local lodges, as well as the 111th Key Spouse & Volunteer Group, distributed gifts and loaded the attendees’ cars at the end of the event. Trish Vera baked and provided two delicious cakes, one in pink and one in blue.

Service members in the Navy, Marines, Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Guard, from the Joint Base and throughout Pennsylvania, attended the shower.

Itamarcami Almanzar Perez, who serves in the Marine Corps, said, “I really am happy I came to this event. I wasn’t ready with gifts and things, so this is going to help my baby girl.”

Mackenzie McGroarty and her boyfriend, Jacob Burk, both serve in the Air Force Guard out of Harrisburg. “It’s nice because neither of us are from Pennsylvania,” Mackenzie said. “His family is in Texas and mine is in upstate New York.
This event gave me a family-type feeling. All the gifts will help us a lot.”

The “Mora” family shared the following expression of
appreciation:

“I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. This was extremely thoughtful and beyond kind. While we are nowhere near our families and missing them so much, this makes us miss them a little less, being showered with the wonderful gifts you gave to us.”

closeup of military boots and children's shoes

Since 2008, Pennsylvania Masons have contributed $1.6 million to support military members, veterans and their families through the Help for Our Heroes program.