Baby shower held on Rikers Island

NEW YORK (FOX5NY) - Fox 5 went behind bars on Rikers Island for the first baby shower for female inmates and their children.  New York City First Lady Chirlane McCray was host to 50 female inmates and detainees who also are mothers to 90 children. They were reunited in the yard of the Rose M. Singer Center.

"It's tramatic for them to be separated and they need opportunities to be together, "McCray said.

There were many gifts and prizes for the moms and their kids, but the biggest gift of all was the quality time.

"I came here when I was pregnant so I wasn't able to have a baby shower so this is like a special occasion to me," inmate Jasmine Rainey said.

Representatives were there from city agencies and private groups that offer services to help the mothers turn their lives in a positive direction. For the children, having mom at home all the time would be a dream come true.

"It's one thing to provide resources, provide support services, but if parents aren't connecting to them, it's not very efficient or productive," McCray said.

This was more than a party. Many of the moms we spoke with see it as a gateway to a better life for them and their children.