When Delaware County Memorial Hospital closed its maternity ward in January 2022, Upper Darby and other parts of Delaware County faced a maternity desert.

A community baby shower confronted that desert Saturday with information and supplies for pregnant women and families, writes Kathleen E. Carey for the Daily Times.

Thirty five organizations offered resources at Beverly Hills Middle School. The shower was sponsored by state Rep. Gina Curry (D-164) of Upper Darby, state Sen. Tim Kearney (D-26) of Swarthmore, the Maternity Care Coalition, and The Foundation for Delaware County.

Chemeek Lumb passed out diapers, booties, toys and other items available for expectant mothers and mothers with infants from her SML Foundation in honor of her 19-year-old daughter, Sabriyah M. Lumb.

“Sabriyah passed away almost three years ago in a car accident and she was with child,” Lumb said. “So, my husband and I, we put together the Foundation … Turn our pain into our passion and keep her name going ’cause she was loving. It’s something that she would be pleased with.”

Desiree LaMarr-Murphy, founder and CEO of Murphy’s Giving Market, a free-item market at West Chester Pike and State Road, provided fruits and vegetables for the pregnant moms.

Find out what else was offered at the community baby shower in the Daily Times.