By Airman 1st Class Tara A. Williamson
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
“Keeping up with the Kardashians” stars Kim, Kourtney and Khloé gave back to the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst community during an Operation Shower event for 64 new mothers July 7, in Jersey City, New Jersey.
The shower supported military families who are expecting children or have recently had children and to help with the financial burdens of a new child. Each mother took home a new crib, rocker seat, air purifier, complete bottle set, box of diapers, toys, blankets, clothes and a $100 gift card.
Sarah Wink, one of the mothers attending and spouse of Staff Sgt. Robert Wink, a 819th Global Support Squadron loadmaster, said she appreciated the gesture for military families.
“Everything was a surprise, I wasn’t expecting anything that big,” Wink said, referring to the gifts each mother received. “We definitely needed everything they gave us.”
The mothers and their guests also enjoyed a family-style lunch, dessert table, baby styling tips from the Kardashian sisters and baby shower games.
Several of the new moms were taken aback upon learning they had “won” the crib during a staged raffle. A number was drawn and one of the mother’s threw her hand in the air and yelled, “I have it!” One by one the other mothers realized each card had the same number.
“One of the mothers at our table couldn’t believe it,” said Aimee Robinson, wife of Chief Master Sgt. Phillip Robinson, the 87th Air Base Wing command chief. “She was floored. ‘I won the crib? Everyone won the crib?’ These women are humbled; they appreciate it. They didn’t go for the free gifts and they were blown away by the whole event.”
Operation Shower originally began in March 2007 when LeAnn Morrissey, the creator of the organization, decided simple cards for expecting mothers whose husbands were deployed was not enough to show the support they had from their unit.
Morrissey, with help from family, friends and the unit, created “shower in a box” that included baby care essentials for each mother. Since its start, the organization has hosted events for more than 1,600 military families across the country.
“When I was in the military we didn’t have events like this,” Robinson said. “We had to go to the thrift store or Airman’s Attic. I love that the civilian community is saying, ‘We’re not doing this to look good, we’re doing this because the military families deserve this.'”
Operation Shower has held more than 38 events for families in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard.