A line-up of Canadian country stars are ready to perform in Langley this weekend for a good cause.
Jojo Mason, The Washboard Union, Leaving Thomas, Sons of Daughters, and Kadooh are bringing tunes to the Langley Events Centre on Saturday, Dec. 15 for the JRfm Holiday Fun Day, which raises money for the Basics for Babies charity.
Country artists Dallas Smith and Chad Brownlee will also be at the event to play a game of Family Feud with the audience.
Promotions director for JRfm, Tara Paredes, said the event is like no other in B.C.
“There is no other program like it in B.C., so if we stopped doing it, there’d be a lot of hungry, unhappy babies.”
WATCH BELOW: Last year’s Basics for Babies
Basics for Babies is a non-profit that partners with Food Banks BC to collect and distribute food and supplies to babies in need across the Lower Mainland.
In 1994, Basics for Babies was created when the previous radio station manager recognized a need for baby products in Lower Mainland food banks. The event hasn’t stopped growing since.
“Last year we met the need of all 11 food banks in the Lower Mainland that we work with. This year, any excess will go to food banks within B.C., but outside the Lower Mainland,” Paredes explained.
Last year, the campaign raised $264,242 throughout the year. The event itself raised approximately $48,000 and filled two food bank trucks.
Paredes has been a part of the event for seven years and said she “can’t imagine not being able to feed or diaper my babies,” as she too, is a mother.
“It’s not something most people think of when they immediately go to the food bank. They don’t think diapers and formulas, they think beans, and pasta, and canned stuff. And little babies can’t take that stuff.”
Besides country music performances, the event has a variety of entertainment for all ages with a photo booth, Langley Gymnastics Foundation gym circuit, bouncy castles, caricaturist, a BC Lions meet-and-greet, Darth Vader and storm troopers, children’s Christmas crafts, Vancouver Giants, World Lacrosse Championships, and of course, Santa Claus.
The event runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Langley Events Centre and admission is by donation – either cash or single-use baby items such as diapers, formula, and baby food to the campaign.
For more information, visit https://www.jrcountry.ca/basics-for-babies/
