Once Upon A Shower
“Melissa and Joey” actress and (then) expectant mom Melissa Joan Hart helped provide a storybook baby shower for 40 military moms-to-be during an Operation Shower event at Bethpage State Park: The Black Course. Their spouses are members of the New York National Guard and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. The event was held on Military Appreciation Day at The Barclays, the first event of the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup Playoffs. It was truly a “once upon a time” styled event!
Conducted in partnership with the PGA TOUR’s Birdies for the Brave military outreach initiative, the “Once Upon A Shower”-themed event was sponsored by Barclays and baby bedding company Carousel Designs; also with support from Petunia Pickle Bottom. Seven local designers helped make the event special by competing in a table design contest. Upon eating lunch provided by Whole Foods Market, each of the honored moms-to-be received Operation Shower’s signature “Shower In A Box” – a gift of high-quality products for mothers and babies. The items were donated by companies including Carousel Designs, Petunia Pickle Bottom and others. Barclays also surprised the moms by giving each of them a brand new Britax car seat and a Maclaren stroller!
Upon Making New Friends
Beyond the array of tangible items the moms received, the best gift of all may have been the opportunity for the moms to share stories and gain comfort from other military women in the same situation.
“I cannot thank Operations Shower’s team enough for the amazing day yesterday,” said one of the moms. “Your generosity and kindness were truly unbelievable. I was able to Facetime with my husband yesterday and he was overwhelmed as well with all you have done for us. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!”
In addition to Hart, special guests at the event included Gil Sanborn, managing director at Barclays and co-founder of the Barclays Military Services Network; Peter Mele, executive director of The Barclays appeared with him. Allan Sicat and Jonathan Hartley, both West Point graduates, former U.S. Army officers and owners of Carousel Designs attended as well. Following the shower, Hart and the moms served as special guests at The Barclays’ Military Appreciation ceremony held on the 1st tee; festivities included military pageantry and a vintage military plane flyover provided by the American Airpower Museum. They were addressed by General Craig McKinley, chief of the National Guard Bureau and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Hart, a long-time supporter of charitable causes that support families, said, “I was very honored to have the opportunity to host the Operation Shower event during The Barclays and express my appreciation for all these women do in support of our military. I know how difficult it can be raising a family in the best of circumstances; (I) truly admire the strength, courage and perseverance it takes to keep things running smoothly at home during deployment.”
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