Murfreesboro Water Resources Department announced its collaboration with United Way in this year's "Community Baby Shower." 

For the annual collaboration, Murfreesboro Water has signed on to become one of many collection sites for this year's event and even added an enticing new feature to gain contributions-- a Community Baby Shower Donation Store, located within the MWRD Customer Service office at 300 NW Broad Street.

"With our donation store, busy customers don't have to worry about going out and buying items. Our goal is to raise up to $500 in cash donations for the Department to go out and purchase items, and we're asking customers to contribute monetarily toward this goal for items they'd like to donate to the cause," MWRD Community Affairs Manager, Sharon Seibert said. "It's like a one-stop-gift-shop to get to our goal of providing the ultimate experience for the new and expectant mothers in our community." 

The Murfreesboro Water Resources Department is also accepting donations from Jan. 8-Feb. 3. Focusing on one of United Way's priority community issues, "Healthy Beginnings," all items collected will be bundled into baby bags and distributed to new and expectant mothers at Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital.

United Way is asking residents of Rutherford and Cannon counties to donate new and unused items for newborn up to 6-month-old babies. Items needed include: onesies, diapers, bottles, baby wipes and blankets.

Looking for more ways to get involved with the Community Baby Shower?

Members of the community can also sign-up online and volunteer for the Baby Shower Sort-A-Thon on Friday, Feb. 7 at Patterson Park Community Center. Volunteers will sort through collected items, prepare baby bags, and enjoy the spirit of giving back with fellow community members and organizations.

United Way has a goal of distributing 500 baby bags by Feb. 3! For more information regarding this year's Community Baby Shower, visit www.yourlocaluw.org/communitybabyshower to see other collection sites and more ways for you to get involved and help babies in our community to have a healthy start in life.