Reed Memorial Library baby shower connects families to local support network

Reed Memorial Library used its fourth annual Community Baby Shower to do more than hand out baby items. In Ravenna, the public library served as a trusted entry point to a wider support network for expecting parents and families with newborns, bringing together health, education, nonprofit and family-service groups under one roof.

The shower was held Saturday, April 25, 2026, at 167 E. Main St. in Ravenna, with drop-in hours from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The library said the event included refreshments, games, door prizes and giveaways, and siblings were welcome. Reed Memorial Library also said its events are free and open to anyone, with no library card required, keeping the gathering low-barrier for families who may be navigating several new responsibilities at once.

The strength of the event came from the coalition behind it. Supporters included the Portage County Health District, Portage Learning Centers, UH Geauga Medical Center, UH Portage, United Way of Portage County, WIC, La Leche League of Kent, Catholic Charities, Akron Children’s Hospital, Help Me Grow, LoveLight and Doulify. That mix gave the shower a practical shape: one stop for immediate supplies, but also a chance to connect with people who could answer questions about health care, feeding, early childhood development and social support.

Several of those services line up directly with the needs of new parents. Portage County WIC serves pregnant or breastfeeding people and caregivers of children under age five who live in Ohio and meet income guidelines. Help Me Grow, Ohio’s evidence-based parent support program, includes Central Intake, Home Visiting and Early Intervention, and its Home Visiting service is voluntary and provided at no cost to families. La Leche League offers no-cost breastfeeding support and meetings, while Ohio Medicaid says doulas provide educational, emotional, physical and informational support during pregnancy, childbirth and after birth.

The library’s role also fits its own history. Reed Memorial Library notes that a Book Shower was held on January 16, 1915, as part of its founding history, when the original collection totaled 750 books and grew to 2,500 by the end of that year. More than a century later, the same spirit of community support was visible again, with the library functioning as a place where families could be welcomed, equipped and pointed toward help that lasts well beyond one morning in Ravenna.