A group of residents from a retirement community in Groton recently delivered an unprecedented gift to the Nurturing Families team at L+M Hospital: an entire baby shower’s worth of new, wrapped presents to be donated to a local mother who is experiencing financial hardship with limited supports.

The residents from Windham Falls Estates in Groton delivered the packages to L+M, where they were thankfully accepted.

The Nurturing Families program at L+M receives funding from the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood. The program supports and educates families with children from birth to age 6 and connects them with community resources as needed.

Nurturing Families also offers families free phone support, helps connect families with parent groups and makes home visitations aimed at helping improve care. Team members use community organizations and donations to get the supplies needed to help families. However, a donation of an entire baby shower, packaged and delivered, is unusual.

“The donation was extremely generous, and we are appreciative,” said Dea Vernott, a member of the Nurturing Families team. “We truly want to thank the women of Windham Falls Estates for helping out in such a special way.”

Kelly Gentile, the Enrichment Coordinator at Windham Falls Estates, explained that she came up with the idea as a special way for residents to help their community. A group of women at Windham Falls embraced the idea, even taking a group shopping excursion to Babies”R”Us to buy the gifts.

“And then,” Gentile said, “we made it into a baby shower, with goodies and punch. We had the whole baby shower, but instead of opening gifts, we wrapped the gifts.”

Some of the women were shedding tears as they explained what it means to them to be able help a young mother in need.

“It’s just a wonderful thing,” said Bunny Dart, a resident. “The baby comes from the mother, and she wants to give it everything, and maybe she can’t, but it’s so important to the mother. She wants to give everything to her baby, and hold it and cuddle it.”

Jill Larson, clinical supervisor from Nurturing Families, noted that the group is always looking for donations to help families.

“We are so blessed to have a contribution of this magnitude,” she said. “Due to our families’ needs, we are always welcoming donations ranging from monetary gifts, baby clothes, wipes, diapers, etc. It just really warms our hearts to know the care and thoughtfulness of others in our community.”

Larson noted that the baby shower donation has not yet been given to a mother.

“Finding just the right mother is a delicate balance,” she explained. “With time and patience, these bountiful gifts will serve a beautiful family and enhance the bond between mother and child.”

To contact the Nurturing Families program, call 860-442-0711, ext. 5007.

Bill Hanrahan, a former reporter for The Day, works in public relations at L+M. To submit your own Kindness In Real Life article and photo for consideration, email l.howard@theday.com