Expectant parents and families with children from birth through age 5 are invited to the third annual Bump & Beyond Community Baby Shower on Saturday, Oct. 17 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Honey Bowen Building Community Room in Statesboro.

According to a release from the Bulloch County Commission on Human Services, the free community event will bring together local organizations, health professionals and community partners to share parenting resources, provide practical support and help families build connections.

Activities at the event will include child passenger safety checks and car seat installation assistance. The Book Bus will be onsite and children will receive a free book. Also, diapers and wipes will be given away, along with door prizes and there will be opportunities to learn about services for parents and young children.

For Lora Cooper, executive director of Positive Childhood Alliance Bulloch and the Bulloch County Commission on Human Services, the event's purpose extends beyond a day of celebration. Cooper, recognized by the Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students as an Early Childhood Changemaker, sees Bump & Beyond as an opportunity to address the challenges rural families face when seeking care and support.

"Transportation challenges, limited access to providers, and difficulty finding available services can leave families without the support they need during pregnancy and their children's earliest years, Cooper said. "These challenges are why organizers are hosting Bump & Beyond: to bring resources together in one welcoming location, help parents connect directly with providers and strengthen relationships that can continue after the event."

Cooper also said the baby shower creates an opportunity to raise awareness of the broader needs of rural families, including accessible prenatal and postpartum care, breastfeeding support, home visiting services, affordable child care and reliable transportation.

"Connecting families with community resources is an immediate step toward supporting healthy children and parents while encouraging continued collaboration to address gaps in essential services," she said.

Families are invited to visit participating organizations at Saturday's event and complete a vendor bingo card as they explore available resources. Attendees who complete the event survey will be entered for a chance to win a Pack 'n Play.

For event updates, visit Positive Childhood Alliance Bulloch on Facebook.

Positive Childhood Alliance Bulloch, South Georgia Healthy Start, Early Childhood Care and Education Department at Ogeechee Technical College, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health at Georgia Southern University, the Bulloch County Commission on Human Services/Family Connection Collaborative, and Resilient Communities of Marshland Georgia are working together to plan and host the event.