Charleroi baby shower aids Haitian community

Translators were on hand to make sure those who attended have access to available resources.

Nonprofit Beverly’s PGH held a free community baby shower Tuesday in Charleroi for Haitian Creole-speaking residents to help expectant and new parents.

Beverly’s teamed up with Southwestern Pennsylvania Human Services to host the event at 303 Chamber Plaza.

“(AHN) reached out to us and we’ve learned that there was a need to have this in Charleroi to help reach families that might have difficulty with transportation barriers as well as connections to resources,” said Darla Sherlock, Beverly’s senior director of programming.

The event offered a wide variety of resources, education and free baby products for Haitian parents who are pregnant or have newborns. Parents were given free diaper bags filled with baby care items, along with a car seat.

While 28 mothers signed up for the baby shower, more than 30 attended. Beverly’s holds about 35 baby showers each year throughout the Pittsburgh region.

Three interpreters from Global Wordsmiths were at the event to translate and converse with the Creole- speaking families. The interpreters ensured that the Haitian families were not deterred by a language barrier.

“We definitely want to make sure that the (language barrier) doesn’t exist and break it down,” Sherlock said. “So that’s why we’ve made sure that we have one that is helping to facilitate the shower, and then we also brought on two other interpreters so that when we’re playing games, they’re able to talk to the families so that there are no barriers hopefully in that room today, and it makes us be able to go together.”

Hernanda Elias, a Global Wordsmiths interpreter, expressed enthusiasm for assisting the parents at the baby shower.

“It’s like I’m the middleman helping them connect, in a sense, and understand better what it is that they have here and the opportunities and resources that they have and how to better utilize that,” Elias said. “Some of them will feel a little overwhelmed or they’re not sure exactly what it is they need, so this makes it a nice way to help them understand what it is.

“And they also appreciate the fact that they have this opportunity to get offered to them. What makes me happy is the fact that I’m able to help them.”

Beverly’s PGH and interpreters from Global Wordsmiths declined to comment on the disparaging remarks that the Haitian community continues to face following former President Donald Trump’s statement regarding Charleroi during a rally in Tucson, Ariz. last week.

“Our organization Beverly’s PGH is really here to celebrate and strengthen families, so we want to help celebrate these families within their expectant journey, and we’re just excited to bring joy to them,” Sherlock said.