FLEMING ISLAND — The Fleming Island Library was filled with new and expecting mothers on Saturday, Aug. 15, as they sought to connect and learn during this year's Community Baby Expo.

The 10th annual event, hosted by Ascension St. Vincent's, aimed to bring together local families for a fun, resource packed morning celebrating the community's newest little arrivals. 

With a bingo card in hand, around 200 families and community partners ventured to more than 20 booths, including Healthy Start, Quigley House, Better Together, Feeding Northeast Florida and the Dolly Parton Imagination Station, to discover the various robust programs and resources available in Clay County.

"Our goal is to have a welcoming, supportive space where families can get a lot of extra resources that are in our community," said St. Vincent's Nurse Lactation Consultant Ellen Haynes. "Because, at the hospital, it's a quick two days. They're overwhelmed. "

Haynes said the event, which is held to coincide with World Breastfeeding Month, allows mothers and fathers to talk with local professionals face-to-face and gain the resources they otherwise may not have adequate access to or even know about.

In addition to postpartum doulas, CPR experts, Fatherhood PRIDE and lactation support specialists, attendees were also able to participate in diaper, stroller and playset giveaways. Each booth hosted its own raffle. 

"There's lots of different information out there that people don't know about," Haynes said. "Even just networking between these groups is great. Everybody finds out, 'Wow, I didn't even know we had that in Clay County.'"