Skip to Content

Happy and health babies at TVHS

TVHS Associate Director at Murfreesboro Edward Payton loads a toy baby stroller into a woman Veteran's car at the 2022 Women Veterans Baby Shower
TVHS Associate Director at Murfreesboro Edward Payton loads a toy baby stroller into a woman Veteran's car at the 2022 Women Veterans' Baby Shower.
By Hannah McDuffie, Public Affairs Officer

The Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (TVHS) held its annual women Veteran baby shower Friday, May 13 at the Alvin C. York campus in Murfreesboro.

Twenty-eight women Veterans and their partners showed up to the drive-thru event and roughly 50 baby items were collected and donated. The new baby shower donations included must-need items like baby formula, diapers, toys and books, new clothes, gift cards, strollers, and cribs. TVHS Center for Development and Civic Engagement (formerly voluntary service) collected the donations prior to the event and ensured the event went well. 

"These baby items are just a token of our appreciation to women Veterans," Carolyn Smith, TVHS Women Veterans Program Manager said. "We love hosting this baby shower because it shows that women Veterans are important to us, not just when they were serving, but after they return home as well." 

The baby shower allows TVHS leaders and staff to interact with women Veterans in a more personal way and outside of a doctor's office. Edward Payton, associate director at Murfreesboro, and Aaron Grobengeiser, acting associate director at Nashville, were present to greet women Veterans and help distribute the donated items.

"This event is important because we provide items to expecting Veteran families while establishing a trusting relationship with them," Smith said.

For more information about the TVHS Women Veterans Program, contact Carolyn.Smith10@va.gov. To make a donation to TVHS Veterans, reach out to TVHS Center for Development and Civic Engagement (formerly Voluntary Service) at 615-873-6984.