Mariah Antetokounmpo is throwing a community baby shower. Here’s how you can help

Pregnancy cravings are a real thing.

Mariah Antetokounmpo’s? Giving back.

“I think it’s just always been a part of who I am,” she told the Journal Sentinel in a recent phone interview. “I find joy in helping others and uplifting others.”

In 2021, Mariah and her husband, Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, put on a diaper drive with Milwaukee Diaper Mission to celebrate the birth of their second son, Maverick. Since then, it’s become an annual event, called The BIG Give Back, which Mariah also helped organize when Baby No. 3, Eva, was on the way.

“I get wild ideas I guess when I’m pregnant and decide to take things on,” Mariah said.

Her fourth pregnancy would be no exception. That’s when she came up with the idea to throw a community baby shower.

The Charles Antetokounmpo Family Foundation teamed with Kids Impact Community and Babbling Babes to bring to life April Showers of Love, a maternity, baby and toddler gear donation drive. Gently used and new items are being collected at dropoff spots across the Milwaukee area through April 30.

With support from the community, organizers are aiming to help 75 local families who are expecting or growing and in need.

“Milwaukee’s done so much for our family,” Mariah said, adding that it’s where Giannis basically grew up since age 18 and where the two have been growing their own family.

“We can’t be everywhere and we can’t help everyone, but we can start somewhere,” she said. “So, what better of a place than a place that means so much to us and a community that means so much to us.”

The culmination of the donation drive will be a CAFF Family Day, a private event with food and fun during which the recipient families will be showered with the donated items. The first CAFF Family Day was held in Athens last summer at a gym where the Antetokounmpo brothers used to play basketball.

“It takes a village to raise a child. I truly believe that,” Mariah said.

Showing the recipient families that they have a community supporting them as they embark on this new adventure is what’s most important, she said.

“Bringing a child into the world is a lot for anybody, so making sure they have some of these basic needs covered is really important, and taking some of the stress off the families,” she said.

If there are any extra donated products from the drive, partner organizations will distribute them to additional local families in need.

How you can support the ‘April Showers of Love’ donation drive

These are the items the donation drive is seeking:

• Baby clothes (newborn to 5T)

• Diapers (open or new packages)

• Formula (unopened and good for the next three months)

• Breastfeeding pillows (Boppy, etc.)

• Health and hygiene baby products (unopened)

• Toys (appropriate for ages newborn to age 5)

Most can be gently used unless otherwise noted, but must be washed and in dignity condition. If you’re looking to shop new, there’s an Amazon Wishlist with needed items here.

These are items not being accepted for this donation drive: Car seats, cribs, furniture, jumpers, swings, walkers and breast pumps.

Where to drop off donations

Those interested in donating items to the drive can register here.

In and around Milwaukee

Milwaukee:

• Milestones, 3131 N. Summit Ave.

• Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown, the 330 E. Kilbourn building (drop off in the lobby).

Shorewood:

• Little Sprouts Play Cafe, 4606 N. Wilson Drive, Shorewood (drop off from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday).

• American Family Insurance, 4484 N. Oakland Ave. (drop off from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday).

West of Milwaukee

Brookfield: Nugget Nation, 12501 W. Bluemound Road (drop off from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday; 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. Friday; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday).

Elm Grove: Bug and Goose Play Cafe, 13448 Watertown Plank Road (drop off from 9 to 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 to 5 p.m. Monday; 8:30 to 10 a.m. and 3:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday; 9 to 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 to 5 p.m. Wednesday; 9 to 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 to 5 p.m. Thursday; 8:30 to 10 a.m., 3:30 to 5 p.m. and 5:30 to 7 p.m. Friday; 8:30 to 10 a.m., 3:30 to 5 p.m. and 5:30 to 7 p.m. Saturday; and 9 to 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

South of Milwaukee

St. Francis: Taxi and Tide Imaginative Play Space, 4016 S. Packard Ave. (drop off from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. There’s a bin by the door. Weekday drop-off times vary. Call 262-902-6402 or email hello@taxiandtide.com).

Ozaukee County

Mequon: The Play Retreat, 1406 W. Mequon Road, Mequon (check website for drop-off times).

Grafton: The Spot Family Play Studio, 1752 Wisconsin Ave. (drop off from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday).

Note: There are additional drop-off locations across the area at Kids Impact Community leaders’ homes. Specific addresses are sent via email after registering.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Mariah Antetokounmpo leading drive for Milwaukee community baby shower