This March local SFU students will be out collecting baby supplies for YWCA Metro Vancouver to support mothers in need. The BIG Baby Drive aims to collect more than 1,000 pieces of baby supplies in Vancouver on March 22/23.
Local non-profit organization One Big Movement (OBM) is asking for your help to make a difference in the lives of those that need it most. B.C. has held the highest child poverty rate in Canada for eight consecutive years, with the number of children living below the poverty line increasing by 16,000 over the past two years.
After meeting with a Manager of Program Development at a Vancouver-based initiative in the Downtown Eastside, it was discovered that there is an alarming demand for baby necessities in the low-income community that is not being met. This sparked the Big Baby Drive, a two-day event being held at Oakridge Centre on Thursday & Friday, March 22nd and 23rd from 10 am to 4 pm. There, OBM will be collecting infant basics including:
• Unopened baby food, body care, skincare & shampoo products
• New blankets, clothes (mitts, sleeping bags, socks, shoes, etc.) and bedding
• New diapers (open boxes are okay – any size is great, but sizes 4,5 and 6 are highest in demand)
• Baby monitors, speakers and breast pumps
• Strollers, car seats, highchairs, cribs and mattresses
• Toys (nursery, bath, developmental, playhouses, etc.
Monetary donations will also be accepted. All proceeds will support three programs at YWCA Metro Vancouver, a non-profit organization whose core service area focuses on supporting single mothers and their families.
“Single mothers face ongoing struggles when trying to support their families. After feeding their children, buying expensive baby supplies and paying rent, many mothers have little left, forcing them to live a hand-to-mouth existence. Because of this, they are trapped in the cycle of poverty. We are so grateful for the generous donations from the community as they will have a significant impact on the quality of life for these families” said ChantelleKrish, Public Relations manager for the YWCA Metro Vancouver.
Dates: March 22/23:
Where: The Big Baby Drive will take place at Oakridge Centre in front of The Bay
Time: from 10 am to 4 pm.