Montebello resident Priscilla Medina was all smiles among a group of two dozen expectant moms, visiting booths to learn about food and community resources, and playing games before going through a store to pack a bag full of free baby essentials. The Community Baby Shower was hosted in May at Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan and L.A. Care Health Plan’s Community Resource Center (CRC) in East Los Angeles.
“I am so thankful for this baby shower,” said Medina, who was seven-months pregnant with her third child. “Everything was free — and that’s so helpful because everything is so expensive for babies. It’s great that we were connected to all of this, and to learn that there are so many resources to help moms.”
At the event, attendees talked with local organizations offering food and housing assistance, pregnancy and postpartum care, and help enrolling newborns in medical coverage. The moms-to-be also had fun — playing human bingo, guessing baby item prices and posing for photos — all before “shopping” at the Baby Bodega stocked with free diapers, wipes, blankets and swaddles.
“They really helped answer a lot of questions that I had,” said East Los Angeles resident Margarita Almaraz, who was in her ninth month of pregnancy with her first child. “They were able to point me in the right direction for getting my baby medical coverage, how to get his birth certificate — and that’s been so very helpful.”
These baby shower events are free and hosted year-round at more than a dozen Community Resource Centers in Los Angeles County, jointly operated by Blue Shield Promise and L.A. Care. Designed for any women in their fourth through ninth month of pregnancy, these events are a cornerstone of Blue Shield Promise’s efforts to close healthcare gaps and strengthen community well-being.
“When we engage moms early, we have a unique opportunity to get them and their families on a healthy path,” said Jennifer Schirmer, vice president of Medi-Cal Growth at Blue Shield Promise. “Every time we connect someone to food support, medical coverage or housing assistance, we’re setting the stage for lifelong health and reducing the chance of more serious and costly issues down the line.”
Baby shower events were also held recently at the Community Resource Centers in Lynwood and Long Beach, and offered not just tangible supplies, but connection and emotional support.
“When you get pregnant you're kind of in your own little world, secluded from everyone. You're doing your own thing and you feel like you can’t do much because you’re not feeling good,” said Medina. “It feels nice to be around other people who are going through the same thing.”
That sense of support is no accident. Coordinators say the events are intentionally designed to lift up pregnant moms — offering a moment of celebration, connection and empowerment.
“We're genuinely excited to host these events as they allow us to celebrate and support expectant moms, ensuring they have the information, resources and community backing they need during this important time in their lives,” said Schirmer. “We know this work can make a lasting difference — not just for individual families, but for the health of entire communities.”
To learn more about Blue Shield Promise and L.A. Care’s Community Resource Centers, visit Welcome to the CRCs | Community Resource Center.
