Islanders Throw Baby Shower for Military Moms

The mission on Monday afternoon was to send military moms home with plenty of essential baby supplies.
Efficiency was key, especially for active military members and families, who tend to do things with a sense of purpose and precision. With that in mind, the parking circle at Northwell Health Ice Center was transformed into a drive-thru pickup station, dotted with seven separate stands and volunteers loading baby monitors, high chairs and more into cars, trucks and SUVs.

That was the objective on a literal level, as the New York Islanders and Operation Shower teamed up to throw a baby shower for 25 expecting military moms. Take a step back and Monday was about showing appreciation, creating community and finding a creative way to help military families on the home front.
"A lot of their spouses or partners are deployed or are gone for various reasons so they are going through a lot of stress right now in addition to having a baby on the way," said LeAnn Morrissey, Chief Shower Officer for Operation Shower. "We're hoping to relieve a bit of that stress today and provide joy along with it and great gifts that make them happy."

The expecting moms received a bevy of baby essentials, including baby monitors, diaper genies and high-chairs. The Shower in a Box kit, which was the initial offering Morrissey sent to military moms back in 2007, contains diapers, baby wipes, burp cloths, socks and more. All the moms driving through had a lunch catered from Blue Line Deli and were cheered on by volunteers and Islanders staffers.
"I'm so grateful for the gifts, it's super fun and a really amazing event," said Collette Stock. "Being a military family we don't have any family around, so we don't get the typical baby shower that a normal mom would get. Anything helps and not only the gifts, but the support and all of the relationships you build along the way is super nice."
Stock's husband is in the Air Force and while he's not currently deployed, they're both far from home. Moving around the country is a reality for many military families, so they don't always have a network of family or friends to throw a baby shower and help provide essentials. The Stocks are expecting a second daughter later this summer.
PHOTOS: ISLES THROW BABY SHOWER FOR MILITARY MOMS
"We wanted to be able to honor them and celebrate them, they may not get a traditional baby shower, so the drive thru is taking the place of that," Morrissey said. "It's to provide the support so they can get started with their new baby on the way and not feel the stress of all the basics and the big things they might need."
Operation Shower also works to connect moms who might be new to the community, through social media, or, in pre-pandemic times, in-person baby showers. They check in with moms and families after the kids are born and consider events like Monday the start of a supportive journey.
In addition to the baby supplies and some playoff merch, both for the moms and for the rookies, the Islanders wives and girlfriends donated $100 Amazon gift cards, to help cover costs for anything that is still needed. The team's gesture, and overall support of military families, was appreciated by the moms in attendance.

"I'm so excited that our hometown team is doing what they're doing," said Colleen Ryan, a logistics officer in the Coast Guard and Islanders fan. "The fact that they're also in the same week in the playoffs shows that the team and team's management is still focused on the community and America as a whole. I'm so grateful they think of us in this time and celebrating not only their success and our success."
Monday's event was also Operation Shower's first on Long Island, thanks in part to the Islanders reaching out and bringing the organization to the local community.
"It means a lot to have the Islanders' support," Morrissey said. "They saw what we did and asked how they could bring it to this area and local moms… The moms deserved everything we could provide and they worked to help us to provide a great day for the moms."
For Morrissey, sending off 25 military moms fully stocked with baby supplies feels like a mission accomplished.
"Seeing the moms today, the tears and how happy they are, I could do this forever," she said. "It's an honor to do so."