Seton Home residents enjoyed a baby shower and an opportunity to continue their education.
By Y. Arroyo
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
The center for civic engagement and the Social Justice League held their first baby shower for residents of Seton Home Oct. 27 in the Fiesta Room of Loftin Student Center.
Seton Home helps teen girls who have been removed from their homes by Child Protective Services due to abuse and neglect and who are pregnant or parenting a child.
The home also offers educational, counseling and spiritual services to the girls.
The room was adorned in pink and blue, and the event had lunch, cake and baby shower games for the moms-to be and new mothers.
Before the shower, the center and the league had a “baby drive” to collect necessities like diapers, bottles and clothes for over a month, said Joseph Liedecke, coordinator of student success.
“We asked how we can help them, and since Seton Home needed baby items, we decided a baby shower was the most appropriate way to help these girls,” Liedecke said. “It’s a wonderful way to educate the public and the students here at this campus, to let them know that there is a place like Seton Home to help mothers who are single.
“I know some of the struggles that they go through, so anytime anybody can lend a helping hand and help them out, I think it’s a good thing,” Liedecke said. “And as the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child. I truly believe that. I think all of us working together can help those in need.”
Helping out can enrich one’s life because it not only feels good, but it makes a difference in someone else’s life. It can be as simple as giving gifts for their babies, said program Coordinator Bianca Sapet.
“Maybe that gives them some kind of hope that there are people out there that really care about them and want them to succeed and move forward.”
The shower had games such as Baby Bingo, Pin the Pacifier on the Baby and Baby Word Scramble led by oceanography freshman Quincy “John” Martinez and journalism freshman Kimberly Brown.
One mother and current Seton Home resident enjoyed the shower.
“It’s really nice and pretty. I like the games, decorations, and there are a lot of nice people here,” said Violet Sanchez, which is not her real name. The guests of honor did not want to share their names because some were victims of stalking or because they had backgrounds in abusive or neglectful homes, said program Coordinator Bianca Sapet.
Seton Home has helped Sanchez earn her GED; it also provides childcare and parenting classes.
After the baby shower the girls were taken on a trip around the campus led by business administration sophomore Jose “Joey” Olivares.
“The tour exposes the girls at Seton Home to let them know what educational institutions are available to them,” Kendra Puente, education director at Seton Home, said. “We want them to continue beyond their high school education.”
The center for civic engagement and the Social Justice League are planning to continue collaborating with Seton Home in the near future, Liedecke said.
