Community Christian Church held its first communitywide baby shower on Sunday afternoon, assembling some 55-60 "layette" packets of infant clothing destined for needy newborns across the world.
Glen Gessley, chairman of the church's outreach ministry, said the church has been doing the program internally for years, but that this is the first year it has encouraged the public to attend. About 30 people showed up on Sunday to assemble the packages.
Each package consists of two T-shirts, two washcloths, one sweater, six cloth diapers, two blankets, two sleepers and two safety pins.
The church put items on baby registry at area stores, and some of the items arrived to the church from donations through Amazon.com, Gessley said.
Most of the layettes will be given to Church World Service, an international organization that disseminates the packages to families in need. In the past three years, the group has distributed 40,000 kits. About one-third stay in the United States, while two-thirds go to mostly underdeveloped countries.
The church hands out some of the packs itself during its own mission trips, he said.
"One of the things I tried to do this year is get the kids (in the church) involved," said volunteer Sharon Clack. That included having church youths perform a skit to spotlight the program during church last Sunday, she said.
"I believe in doing things that benefit children," she said. "Any project that benefits children benefits adults as well."
Robert Clack, 11, was one of the youths who helped out on Sunday.
"I know they do it for a good cause, and that's why I like to help out," he said.