Operation Shower’s Mother’s Day celebration is officially underway as 50 Marine Corps and Navy moms-to-be received thousands of dollars worth of gifts this weekend as a part of an effort to shower 100 expectant moms between now and Mother’s Day. On Friday, Fifty people gathered on a beautiful California afternoon overlooking the Desert Palms Golf Course to celebrate 20 very special moms to be at Twentynine Palms whose husbands are deployed overseas. The festivities continued the following day in San Diego where 30 moms-to-be whose husbands are aboard the USS Nimitz opened presents, won raffle items and talked babies.

“I am so thankful for Operation Shower and this celebration,” said one excited mom-to-be. “With the TV cameras and all of these gifts, I felt like I was on Oprah!” The presents consisted of everything from basic necessities like diapers, wipes and baby care items to larger raffle items like high chairs and car seats. The showers were a hit thanks to thousands of dollars worth of donations from Wal-Mart, its suppliers and 40 other generous companies, both small and large. Rosemary Anthony, President and Founder of Love Me Baby Me, attended the Twentynine Palms shower and gifted all of the women with a gift set of her baby care line.

One mom who has two older children said that it was fun to receive new items that she had never heard of before like BabyLegs leg warmers and Halo Sleepsacks. Another was thrilled to meet a woman whose husband works side by side with hers on the USS Nimitz. The two connected and exchanged numbers, happy to have found a new friend.

“Being a part of these showers is such a humbling experience,” said Lena Morrissey, co-founder of Operation Shower who hosted both of the California events. “These women are so strong and so deserving. With husbands overseas, the stress that they experience must be immense and adding to the family at the same time is particularly challenging. We’re just happy to be able to make this time a little more special.”

Next Sunday, the celebration continues in Fort Bragg, North Carolina and at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. To learn more about the upcoming events or to attend as media, contact Operation Shower co-founder Kris Jackson at kris (at) cleverparents (dot) com.