Free baby shower aims to give moms a good start

When LaDawnna Hudson and friends host a baby shower in two weeks, there will be the usual games, prizes and food. But instead of one pregnant woman being the center of the fuss and bounty, Hudson wants 300 moms whooping it up and going home with car trunks teeming with stuff to get mothering off on the right foot.

Hudson, founder of Women of Power International Ministries in Mesa and co-pastor of Shield of Faith Christian Center, has organized the Labor of Love Community Baby Shower from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 30 at the church, 540 W. Iron Ave., Building 3, and at its next-door neighbor church, Arizona Korean All Nations Church.

Mothers must register for the free event, and the only restriction is they have to be expecting babies or have infants not more than 6 months old. No questions are asked about income or need. "Obviously if they come, they need something," Hudson said. "But it is not just for those with low income, it is for anyone."

Seminars on practical parenting, finding social services, handling postpartum depression and other topics are planned. Medical and parent-related groups will have 10 booths, giveaways and advice.

Mothers must stay the full day to qualify for the gifts. Seventy-eight women participated last year.

"It's just for mom - no babies, husbands, boyfriends or other children," Hudson said. "I want them to have nice things for themselves and their babies."

Hudson showed off a room full of car seats, diapers, mobiles, baby wipes and other newborn accouterments that have been donated by retailers and supporters. So far, volunteers have mustered enough things for more than 100 women and are counting on collecting enough to help 300.

Hudson, who founded Women of Power five years ago, is working to establish the Light House Women's Resource Center to address emotional, social and economic challenges facing women in the East Valley. She said new mothers are beset with stress and financial problems.

Hudson said she escaped households of domestic violence growing up in Detroit and in her first marriage. She has made empowering abuse victims a centerpiece of her Women of Power work.

"I saw my mother and all my aunts go through that, and I kept saying, 'I am not going to do it,' " she said.

But Hudson's husband treated her the same way, she said.

"I was strangled and suffocated. I was beaten. I was run over by a car, chased under a truck. I was kicked," she said.

When Hudson secretly put away money and escaped with her children, her husband followed her and "burned a house down," she said. The eight-year ordeal "tore my self-esteem," she said.

She and her second husband, the Rev. William Hudson, were married 14 years ago. Soon after, they moved to Arizona and launched the church.

From the start, LaDawnna Hudson has spoken out against domestic violence, leading classes on how to restore self-esteem, escape abuse, manage money and find hope.

Maisha Christian, part of a core group of seven women working on Labor of Love, said "trial and error" are central to a new mother's challenge.

"Getting information from people, talking to people and having the resources available" elevate success in parenting, she said.

"I feel like this is more 'baby shower' than a community service project," Christian said. "You can never be fully prepared for becoming a new mom."

Want to go?

WHAT: Annual Labor of Love Community Baby Shower, for expectant mothers or with babies 6 months or younger

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 30

WHERE: Shield of Faith Christian Center, 540 W. Iron Ave., Building 3, Mesa

COST: Free to first 300 women who register at www.wopim.org

INFORMATION: www.wopim.org or (480) 733-4348

DONATIONS: New baby-related products and items are sought and can be delivered after 5 p.m. to the church.