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Military moms honored at Operation Shower

  • Published
  • By Cpl. Mariah F. Best
  • 70th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
JERSEY CITY, N.J. --  Operation Shower, a non-profit organization that provides military moms with baby products, gave a baby shower to forty expectant moms from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. Aug. 21, 2013, at the Barclays golf course in Jersey City, N.J.

Actress Melissa Joan Hart hosted the event and presented the moms with a variety of high valued baby items from various donors. Each mom was given a "shower in a box" and entered into drawings for other high quality gifts.

LeAnn Morrissey, Operation Shower's founder and chief shower officer, started the program in search for a way to do more for military members. Her uncle helped initiate the idea when he was deployed overseas. Morrissey wanted to know what more she could do for him besides send care packages and he said, "Don't worry about me - think about the families back home."

Morrissey has since helped more than 1,600 pregnant military members cope with the stresses of expecting a baby by means of Operation Shower and all of its supporters.

"It started in my basement and in my garage and we've just grown," said Morrissey. "Now we have showers where we bring 40 to 50 moms together at a time, and not only do they get the gifts, they get the 'thank you' and they get to be with other moms in the same situation."

Operation Shower initially started in 2007 with four moms and four boxes. It continues to grow each year in donations, supporters and celebrities. In addition to Hart, this year's special guests included Amber Sabathia, wife of New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia.

Tech. Sgt. Jessica Feliciano, 817th Global Mobility Readiness Squadron airfield management specialist, is not only a service member herself, but one of ten military expectant mothers who attended the event.

"I was really excited to come to Operation Shower," said Feliciano. "I had no idea what to expect but I've met a lot of people. Right now I am the head of my household because my husband is out of work and this shower really helps ease the financial strain."

Feliciano, along with her husband and stepson, anxiously await the arrival of baby Nayima Gianna.

Kelly Hess, military spouse and mom-to-be, knows very well what she got herself into when she married her husband, Air Force Staff ¬¬¬Sgt. Jared Hess, 305th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief.

"I knew the risk of him deploying when I married him, like most military wives do, and I try to support him in every way possible," said Hess. "It was nice to be recognized today."

"Our military members are out there fighting for our country and sometimes it's not recognized what it takes to keep the homefront steady," said Hess. "Today was a big thank you and I am really appreciative of all that (Operation Shower) has done."

Hess, a New Jersey native, is expecting a full schedule up until her due date, November 21. She is not only preparing for her first child (a girl), but is also a Department of Defense contract specialist for the 87th Contracting Squadron on JB MDL.

Although Operation Shower helps alleviate some of the stress of having a baby by distributing generous donations and high-quality gadgets, the mothers-to-be, both seasoned and new, said using their family readiness center has been the best help they have had when it comes to things they need.

"You can always rely on anybody in the military especially when you are away from your family, and that's what the military is: one big family," said Hess.

Operation shower has held 13 showers nationwide this year and is getting ready to host the last one in October. January 2014 will mark the new start of the new Operation Shower Tour, and Morrissey said she hopes to reach even more families.