Community baby shower provides resources to Marion County moms
30 moms who were either expecting or had a baby up to the age of six months was able to sign up for the completely free event, which included learning from experts on how to care for a baby and receiving essential supplies like baby wipes, diapers and more.
Moms were also taught about postpartum depression and where they can find help if they are struggling.
174 players compete for $2000 at 'Almost Heaven' Smash Bros. tournament
Shannon Hogue, CEO of the Marion County Resource & Support Network, told 12 News just how much the event means to the community.
'Baby showers are probably a luxury for some folks and so yeah, this is really a great way to, again, not only do the educational piece and the essentials piece but also to help moms connect because you know if a mom's going through a journey and they're isolative, maybe they don't have family in the area, this is a way to connect with other moms, ask questions and kind of feel support.'
Reyce Kuhn, mom who's expecting her second baby, was grateful to have attended the shower.
'It's pretty nice, I'll say, a lot of people don't have those kind of opportunities for them, but I appreciate it myself.'
Hogue told 12 News if moms missed the cutoff date for this annual event, they can still get help with essential supplies after filling out an intake form, but families must reside in Marion County. The pantry is open Tuesday and Thursdays beginning at 11 a.m., with the last walk-in accepted at 4:30 p.m.
To learn more, go here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
‘Doing nothing is killing us': Worthington residents outraged over town's sewage issues
WORTHINGTON, (WBOY) — Residents of Worthington have become increasingly concerned over the town's sewage issues, with some even reporting that the issue is getting them sick. 12 News first brought you this story more than a year ago, and again in April 2025, but residents said the situation has not improved since. Nathan Kyer, a Worthington resident and a disabled veteran who is immunocompromised, told 12 News that sewage water rising into his property has been a problem for about eight years. However, what used to be a twice-a-year occurrence has now increased to two-to-three times a month. 'I get infections very easy. Sinus infections, upper respiratory, rashes on my skin, staph is a big one I have to watch for […] Had infection from where my open stitches are from a surgery I recently had, and my throat it's when up to my ears and you get tired of it,' said Kyer, who stayed at home for two months to stay safe after his surgery but now the sewage issues are affecting his health. Residents said that it's raw sewage soiling their basements, lawn and property, which happens during storms when the sewage system gets backed up. 'When we have storms, it's really bad. The system just can't handle it. It's vapor locks, I'm guessing. I used to build sewer systems, and it all backs up in the house. You call, the emergency number they have now took me to a free Amazon card drawing so I've had to call 911 before. There's an emergency number now where they have been answering, but then they contact the mayor and then it still took 18 hours for them to get out here last time, and I was having severe IBS,' 'I actually have to sleep in my bathroom sometimes, it gets so bad, and it's not acceptable, it's ridiculous, I've had to use five-gallon buckets and it's very demoralizing. It's in my house, my house stinks, I have animals, you know, it makes you really upset,' Kyer said. Kyer said that although the town has brought in portable toilets, in his case of IBS and being immunocompromised, it's not safe for him. 'It's destroyed all of his stuff, but when you have compromised immune systems and health issues, he can't be in these fumes, so we just try to help each other in cleaning this up but we need help, I mean we need help so bad, ' Andrea Zaleski, Worthington Resident who is one of multiple people helping clean her neighbors homes, said. Kyer has considered moving, but selling a house with a basement that is frequently under sewage water creates a challenge. 'I have a lot of equity right now, but I'm concerned that that equity is going to be gone and I'm going to have to take a loss just for my health and my animals,' Kyer said. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Worthington residents struggle with town's overflowing sewer system Kyer isn't the only resident in this situation; dozens of residents have come together to create the Worthington WV Sewage Crisis Facebook page dedicated to documenting the ongoing sewage problem. 'Turned into the EPA, we've tried government agencies. And we are getting government responses, but it's slow and it's not enough and there's a lot of us that are suffering from this,' Kyer said. 'When this goes into people's living spaces, they're exposed to the bacteria, to the mold that's formed from the stagnant water and solid materials. We're told to open a window, we were told by the DEP at one point to open a window, and I just can't accept that as an answer,' Zaleski said. In October 2024, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection informed the town about violations it found after an inspection. Zaleski said the town is currently working on a Plan of Corrective Action (POCA) on how to solve the issue, but Zaleski said, 'we have zero confidence that that's going to happen.' Residents like Zaleski said they've run out of options and turned to a protest non-vote in Tuesday's municipal election, which ended up having fewer than 10 voters, according to Delegate Phil Mallow. This means that the town's municipality could be at risk, but Zaleski said this is now the best course of action for the residents. 'We are trying to put together a declaration of no confidence in this administration and plead for the county commission to take over this issue for sewage. I understand that they're going through a process right now, but we've been told that for so long, and nothing happens. So I think that, and like I said, in their defense, I think this is just so overwhelming, they really—how would you know what to do? But doing nothing is killing us,' Zaleski said. According to West Virginia State Code, a municipality can forfeit its charter or certificate of incorporation if fewer than 20 legal votes are cast in its most recent election. Once the town's election results are certified, if fewer than 20 people voted, residents can petition the Marion County Court, and the town could be dissolved, leaving its 173 residents to be assimilated by the county. Former Buckhannon mayor sentenced on child porn charge Mallow, who recently attended a town meeting over the sewage issues and has contacted other officials to try and find a resolution, spoke with 12 News about this situation. 'I'm sure everybody's frustrated, but it just seems odd to me that if it's been going on since 2008 or 2018 or whatever the case may be, that all of a sudden it's come to a head,' Mallow said. Worthington town officials told 12 News they have 'no comment' regarding Worthington's municipality status, but that they are working on a statement about the sewage issues in the town. 'As of right now, our attorney is going to get some things ready to address the issue,' said the official. They added that town officials have plans to be interviewed by 12 News and another outlet, but did not provide a date for the interview. 'The statement will come out when everything is typed up and ready because we have a lot of evidence that we're going to present to prove what's going on,' the official said. The Marion County Commission has yet to reply to 12 News' request for comment on this story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Yahoo
‘She always said, 'I'm going to be famous, dad'': Teen dies after viral TikTok ‘dusting' challenge
The parents of a 19-year-old who dreamed of fame and died after trying the TikTok 'dusting' trend are warning others about its deadly risks. Renna O'Rourke and her boyfriend DoorDashed aerosol keyboard cleaner to her parents' Tempe, Arizona, home without her mother's knowledge, Dana O'Rourke told 12 News. The dusting trend, also known as chroming or huffing, involves inhaling common household cleaners to get high for views online. The sensation causes brief euphoria but can cause instant, fatal damage, often due to heart failure, according to the Cleveland Clinic. After inhaling the keyboard cleaner, Renna went into cardiac arrest, spent a week unconscious in the intensive care unit, and then was declared brain-dead. Renna's parents described their late daughter as 'vivacious and caring and loyal.' Her father, Aaron O'Rourke, told 12 News that Renna loved to sing and lit up every room with her smile and laughter. 'She always said, 'I'm going to be famous, dad. Just you watch. I'm going to be famous,' and unfortunately, this is not under the most optimal of circumstances,' Aaron O'Rourke, told the outlet.. Despite the less-than-ideal circumstances, the O'Rourke family is now working to honor Renna by spreading the word about the dangers of huffing for teens and parents. 'There's no ID required. It's odorless. It's everything kids look for. They can afford it, they can get it, and it doesn't show in mom and dad's drug test,' Dana O'Rourke told AZ Family about access to the trendy chemicals. She added, 'Don't take your kid's word for it. Dig deep. Search their rooms. Don't trust — and that sounds horrible, but it could save their life.' A GoFundMe started to help the O'Rourke family with hospital bills, burial and therapy costs, and to spread awareness about huffing has surpassed its $5,000 goal and sits at over $9,000 at the time of publication.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Yahoo
Advocates help raise awareness in Harrison County for Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month
CLARKSBURG, (WBOY) — June is Alzheimer's and brain awareness month, and here in West Virginia, more than 38,000 people aged 65 and older have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or some sort of dementia, according to the Alzheimer's Impact Movement. And as the age of people diagnosed is decreasing, general concern is increasing. Advocates of the cause are helping raise awareness of Alzheimer's and brain health by speaking with local city councils. These advocates were granted a proclamation on behalf of the Harrison County Commission in its meeting on Wednesday, the Clarksburg City Council on Thursday, and will receive one from the Bridgeport City Council on Friday. 12 News spoke with Bill O'Field, Mission Chairman of the North Central Walk to End Alzheimer's, who spoke with doctors from the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute on what some of the key signs of dementia and Alzheimer's may look like. Harrison County commissioners split on future of Sunset Ellis property 'It's normal in the aging process to maybe forget a name or forget where you put your car keys, but then you find them. And maybe later in the day, the seniors say, 'but then I remember that name when I get home. The doctor said that's good.' That's just the normal aging process taking place. But it's when you can't cook for yourself, you don't know how to do your laundry, those are the true signs of Alzheimer's,' said O'Field. O'Field also mentioned to be wary of weight loss and depression, and to maintain a healthy diet and exercise, as a healthy body can help result in a healthy mind. The Harrison County Senior Center offers an Alzheimer's support group in its boardroom at 10 a.m. on the second Thursday of each month. You can call 304-623-6795 for more information. The North Central Walk to End Alzheimer's will also be held on Oct. 5 this year at the Meadowbrook Mall with registration beginning at 1 p.m. and the ceremony beginning at 2 p.m. For more information about Alzheimer's and local resources, you can call 800-272-3900 or click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
