World File Photo Volunteers sort through items that were given away at the Community Baby Shower event last May in Coos Bay.

The Bay Area and other Oregon communities are gearing up for what is sure to be the state's biggest baby shower.

On Saturday, the Oregon Department of Human Services and the Soroptomist International organizations are hosting community showers throughout the state to collect baby basics such as diapers, clothing and bedding.

Soroptomist International of the Coos Bay Area will host a community baby shower from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Myrtle Room of the Bay Area Hospital, 1775 Thompson Road, in Coos Bay.

In Gold Beach, a community baby shower will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Gold Beach City Hall, 29592 Ellensburg Ave.

Coquille will hold its community baby shower from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. James Episcopal Church, located at Third and Baxter.

Too often, the joy that should accompany the birth of a new baby is marred by poverty, violence, or abuse. For these little ones, there will be no baby shower, no welcoming gifts, and no celebration. To deal with these community issues, the local Soroptomist clubs will be working to provide the needed supplies for new babies and also to reach out to a new mother with kindness and warmth.

“We all have a role in helping Oregon's children thrive,” said Gov. Ted Kulongoski. “This is an opportunity for communities to mobilize and provide a safety net to families who do not have the resources to meet their newborn's needs. All families benefit from strong, supportive communities.”

Kathy Verger Muscus, a member of the Bay Area Soroptomists, said the idea grew from the successful event held in Coos County last year, when more than 500 baby items were donated by the communities.

“We wanted to reach out to the families in our community with kindness and warmth,” said Verger Muscus. “Every mother should have the essentials to care for her baby.”

Items suggested for the baby shower include disposable diapers, baby powder, baby oil, baby shampoo, baby wipes, pacifiers, receiving blankets/quilts, knitted booties and hats, bottles, socks for newborns, T-shirts and onesies for newborns, Q-Tips, baby toys and pajamas.

The donated items will be given to families identified through the local DHS offices, which collectively serve more than 940,000 clients each year.

Those who will benefit from the baby showers may include teen mothers who are in foster care, grandparents caring for grandchildren, foster mothers, single mothers who are struggling to provide shelter, food and health care for their children, women fleeing from domestic violence and the one in nine Oregon families who are receiving food stamps or who are on the Oregon Health Plan.

The results of an online baby budget calculator show the first year of life can exceed $4,000 with more than $1,000 of that spent on disposable diapers.

Those who are interested in sponsoring a child, cash donations that will be used to purchase items can be sent to Attn: Kevin Stufflebean, Community Outreach, 2110 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay, OR 97420. Checks can be made out to Community Outreach.

Those who are unable to make donations at Bay Area Hospital can drop off new items through Friday, March 3, at the Newmark Center, 2110 Newmark Ave., in Coos Bay.

For more information, those interested can call Stufflebean at 888-7141 or Sharon Smith at 266-3951.

Participating in this year's Community Baby Shower event are Soroptomist clubs in Portland, Gresham, Hood River, Keizer, McMinnville, Salem, Corvallis, Albany, Eugene, Junction City, Lakeview, Klamath Falls, Redmond, Prineville, Bend, Brookings, Florence, Medford and Ashland.