ROBERT PIERCE
• Leader & Times
July is here, summer is in full swing, and it is hot outside in Southwest Kansas.
While many opt to stay indoors with the air conditioning, others take to the local swimming hole as a way to beat the heat of the season, and Liberal’s Adventure Bay Water Park gives people a chance to do so annually from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
On most days at Adventure Bay, though, admission fees are required for entry ranging from $3 for children to $7 for adults, but Saturday, July 12, swimmers can take to the water park for the small price of a baby item.
That day, Birthline of Liberal is hosting its Baby Essentials Drive, which allows swimmers entry to the water park with a donation of a baby item. Birthline Director Cheryl Valdez said this year’s drive has been switched up from drives of the past that went to collect diapers.
“We wanted to make it a little easier for people,” she said. “It’s not just diapers. It’s baby necessities – anything a baby can use from diapers to bottles to clothes to whatever you think a baby can use up to 12 months old. It’s one item per person to get you entrance into the water park.”
Swimming will take place from 1 to 7 p.m. July 12. While she is not looking for baby formula donations at Adventure Bay, Valdez said she does take formula from other donations made to the local pregnancy center. She is not, however, lacking in formula at this time, and Birthline gives out baby food in limited quantities due to some clients having provisions from USDA’s Women Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program.
“I do help if somebody doesn’t qualify for WIC for some reason,” she said. “I do give baby blankets. I give baby socks, especially when a girl comes in and she tests positive for being pregnant. She’ll get a baby bag, which gives her socks, a blanket and baby items she thinks she can use. I give her a choice to pick of what she wants – a baby bottle or pacifier. I don’t push that a lot because we work with the breastfeeding, so we push that a lot.”
Birthline recently closed its annual baby bottle campaign to collect funding for pregnancy tests.
“With diapers, when I first started, they were only giving them 12 per family, but I actually give a full package,” she said. “I don’t push baby shoes because girls don’t take those for some reason, but they do take the baby socks, the baby bottles, baby wipes. I do give prenatal vitamins.”
With donations at a healthy level currently, Valdez said it is up to Adventure Bay patronss’ discretion as to what they would like to bring to donate.
“On occasion, I do carry up to size 3 clothing when Mom needs help with baby and she has toddlers,” she said.
Birthline services have always been on a volunteer basis, so clients are not charged for items or services. Valdez said donations can also be made outside of the Baby Essentials Drive at Adventure Bay.
“If they want to make personal donations, they can come to 3 South Clay,” she said. “I’m there Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. If those hours don’t work and they can call me ahead of time, I can plan to either wait for them, or we can meet somewhere.”
For more information about the drive or any other questions about Birthline, call 620-626-6763. Valdez said swimmers can likewise get into the water park for monetary donations July 12.
“That also works,” she said. “When you go to the water park, please designate that it is for Birthline, and I will be there. I’ll have a table set up by the door.”
Valdez said past drives have done well, and she expects the same for this year.
“People really like it,” she said. “It’s less expensive. Sometimes, they come with the two parents and maybe two or three children, and they say that works better for us. They enjoy it, and it’s been pretty beneficial to us. If there’s anything I need through donations, I can go purchase it if there’s something I don’t have that somebody needs.”
Valdez said she is excited for this year’s Baby Essentials Drive at Adventure Bay.
“It’s always fun to go and see,” she said. “The kids get excited when they bring their donations.”
