Baby Shower (Spring 2024)
Overview
The Gathering Humanity Refugee Baby Shower is a way to reduce the burden on new mothers by providing enough emotional, educational, and physical support to help get them through the first two years of their baby's life. We provide education through translators, plus the tangible basics & necessities that every Western mother needs to thrive.
When:
April 20th @ 11am - 2pm
Where:
Sent to you upon registration
How to help
Donate items:
We’re accepting like-new toys, books, and other gear for children up to age 2. Please, no used feeding equipment, used beds, or used car seats. We cannot accept soiled or dirty items.
We welcome gently used clean clothing items! You can bring items to the venue (in working condition, no later than 04/06/24) or purchase from our Amazon wish-list and they’ll be shipped to us directly.
Donate funds:
Your donations will enable us purchase new items. Thank you for your support!
How to Volunteer:
1. Personal assistant:
As a personal assistant, you will be assigned moms on the day of the shower and help them shop in our baby shower store. You may assist them by carrying bags as they pick out items, guide them through the various parts of the store (clothing, toys, high chairs, diapers, etc.) and ensure that all moms will pick out and receive their free gifts.
2. Interpreter:
As an interpreter, you will help interpret all educational educational content (i.e. reproductive services in Phoenix, AZ, financial literacy, car seat education, etc.), as well as assist with interpretation services throughout the shower.
3. Decoration Crew:
Eye for design and beauty and willing to help decorate our rooms before our moms arrive.
4. Food Services:
Assist with preparation of food and drinks the morning of the shower and with serving food during the lunch.
5. Babysitting:
Level 1 fingerprint clearance card is required and you would help babysit children of our moms to ensure that they can fully participate and enjoy their baby shower.
6. Registration:
Welcome moms, mentors, and volunteers, keep check-in list confidential, have everyone sign in and fill out consent volunteer forms etc.
7. Break Down & Clean Up
Baby Shower News
A Muslim Doctor and British Immigrant Orchestrate a Bi-Annual Baby Shower for Refugees - You Can Help
I got involved in refugee work during those late nights of breastfeeding one of my kids - during the Syrian refugee crisis. And rather than worry about how down in the mom dumps I was feeling, it was easier to feel depressed for other people because, for others, you can do something.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Please drop off any donations at:
510 S 52nd St #107, Tempe, AZ 85281or contact Uzma at: Ujafri2 (at) gmail (dot) com
-
Yes, please wear comfortable clothing. No short shorts, tank tops, or crop tops, etc. Thank you!
Other questions? Contact us!
Meet the team
Uzma Jafri MD, CMD
Uzma Jafri MD, CMD is a mom of 4 and physician in solo practice in Phoenix, medical director of an assisted living and hospice agency, and graduate medical faculty. She is also a certified speaker for the ISBA and volunteers with multiple organizations to support refugees. Since 2015 she has gone on medical and humanitarian missions abroad, and served with grassroots organizations and refugee resettlement agencies locally to provide pregnant populations with information and material donations to meet their fourth trimester needs.
Carla Miller
Carla Miller is originally from England. Going through the immigration process gave her an appreciation for just how hard it is to become an American citizen, even when all your ducks are in a row, and wanted to help America’s newest and most vulnerable citizens find their feet. She believes that the strength of America is in its diversity, and has learned both ‘God willing’ and a few more colorful words in several languages over the past 6 years. She never has a happier day than when she’s covered in dust and sweat surrounded by volunteer women of all races helping refugee women of all races become set up for success.
Jill
Working with local and international NGO's, Jill is able to help build bridges between these organizations and the refugees who so desperately need a helping hand. Honored and privileged to have worked with the Gathering Humanity Refugee Baby Shower since the 2nd baby shower, it is amazing to see the community circle around, hold up and give hope to these newly arrived refugees. Welcoming them to Arizona, their new home and seeing the community outpouring is such a shining example of how much good can be done.
Jill and her husband Rob have called Arizona home for over 30 years and live near their 3 grown children.
Emily
Emily was born to be in the water. She spent her childhood on the world’s oceans, received a rowing scholarship to CAL, and currently spends her days teaching others how to perfect the art of rowing here in the desert. Emily has an innate desire for equity for all humans, influenced by her travels and studies. She’s dedicated to making sure our refugee moms equitably receive all that we can provide for them and their babies.
Alexandra Keil
Alexandra Keil is a registered nurse who works in the pediatric setting with patients and their families. She loves babies and is a mom herself of two young girls. Family is extremely important to her and she believes every family deserves to flourish with the love and support of community. She began her volunteer work with refugee children and their parents in Sweden in 2014. While in Sweden, she worked at the Swedish Red Cross Treatment Center for the War Wounded and Tortured, which served to support refugees from Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Syria with migration related stress and PTSD. She joined the Gathering Humanity Refugee Baby Shower Team in 2023 as the cloth diaper and baby wearing educator. Every baby shower she has participated in has shown how beautiful it is when humanity comes together to help provide resources, support and community for refugees to build a new and better life.
“Ye are all the leaves of one tree and the fruits of one branch”
Julia Lorence, MPH
Julia Lorence, MPH is an AmeriCorps Service member at Valleywise Health Refugee Women's Health Clinic. She immigrated to the U.S. and recently became a U.S. citizen in 2021. After immigrating, Julia heard about Gathering Humanity and was moved by their mission to serve our most vulnerable members of our community. She began volunteering with Gathering Humanity and the Refugee Baby Shower. To meet other clinical needs of refugees, she had the honor and privilege of co-founding the Refugee Education and Clinic Team (REACT), a collaboration between Mayo Clinic and Arizona State University in 2017. As an aspiring physician and policy advocate, Julia hopes to continue to remove barriers to care and empower refugee women as they begin their new life in the United States.
Felicia Turner
Felicia Turner's passion in this life is to lend a helping hand where she's able and to bring balance back into peoples lives! The most precious thing in this world are the littles who depend on us to guide them along the way and supporting the mothers who tend to their needs on a daily basis, all while enjoying the journey!
Tahmina Besmel
Tahmina was born in Afghanistan and migrated to the United States as a refugee in 2014. Since then, she has worked tirelessly at non-profit organizations and homeless shelters including Central Arizona Services, U Mom, and Child Crisis of Arizona, and assisted in empowering and transitioning homeless individuals to stable housing and jobs. Tahmina obtained her B.S. in Applied Psychology from Arizona State University with high honors. Currently, she works as a Cultural Health Navigator for Valleywise Health where she plays an instrumental role in assisting many Afghan refugees and their families as they navigate the U.S. healthcare delivery system. She also works as a research consultant at the ASU School of Social Work, and she hopes to pursue a PsyD degree in the future.
Alisa Brennan
Alisa Brennan M. Ed., has long had the privilege of being involved with volunteer efforts that support children and families. Earning a master's degree in K-12 school counseling reinforced her desire to provide tools and resources that empower students and their parents and allow them to experience success with their personal and educational goals. Volunteering with the Gathering Humanity Refugee Baby Shower has enabled Alisa to think outside the box with how her knowledge and experience can expand to individuals in vulnerable communities, not just within the education system. When she's not trying to do too many things at once (a toxic trait or a strength--she's still deciding), Alisa can be found running and reading to decompress!
Angie Legge
Angie Legge is a mom of 2 boys, and owner of Our Community Real Estate in Cave Creek, AZ. She believes that community is everything, and that we are at our best when we are helping others. Angie is passionate about supporting other moms, and welcoming refugees and asylees to their new homes. She was blessed to be involved with the 1st refugee baby shower, and has loved volunteering in any way possible ever since. Angie is an ardent supporter of immigration rights, equality, and dignity for all displaced people.
Thank you to our partners!
