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Music and fun benefit babies at Langley event

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JRfm’s Basics for Babies was on the cusp of being shut down. Donations to the cause were dwindling and it seemed the campaign had run out of steam.

Then organizers decided to revamp a couple of years ago to make it a family celebration.

Now it’s become a significant fundraiser for the Langley and Surrey Food Banks.

“We have this year doubled what we raised two years ago,” explained Terra Lindsay, JRfm’s promotions director.

This year’s event on Dec. 14 raised about $40,000 in cash donations and several truckfulls of baby merchandise.

“The food bank left with a very, very stuffed to the gills truck,” she added.

And the two JRfm vehicles were filled as well.

“It was definitely a much better and bigger event,” she said.

Last year the event was held in the Langley Events Centre banquet room and organizers were overwhelmed when 5,000 people showed up. This year the event used the LEC rink, banquet room, and more, providing ample space for the thousands who attended.

While JRfm spearheads Basics for Babies, it receives lots of support from various businesses and groups. Great Canadian Dollar Stores did crafts and others contributed to the silent auction. There were bouncy castles galore, face painting and balloon art, not to mention a day-long roster of entertainment.

Boyd Autobody in B.C. gathered baby-based donations.

“It was a great event put together for a very good cause,” said Rishi Bakshi, Boyd BC’s area manager. “I managed to get Travis Lulay out along with two BC Lions alumni players, Angus Reid and Bobby Singh on behalf of Boyd Autobody & Glass to help support the cause and raise collections.

“We put together a generous pile of diapers, wipes, food and baby needs along with approximately $2,000 in cash donations including funds raised from the silent auction just on behalf of Boyd.”

The Reptile Guy brought a display to the event and people could feed the turtle or have a large snake draped on their shoulders for a donation which was split between the reptile charity and Basics for Babies.

Jennifer Ferguson was shocked when her name was called out for Maple Ridge Chrysler’s Be Someone’s Secret Santa car giveaway.

The Mission mom was nominated by four different people in the contest that allowed people to nominate others they believed needed a new $20,000 vehicle.

It will be a huge help as the family deals with the cancer battle for five-year-old Peyton.

“She was diagnosed in April,” Jennifer explained.

The dealership created a shortlist of nominees and invited them to the JRfm Basics for Babies fundraiser in Langley Dec. 14 when the winner was announced.

JRfm tracks the donations for Basics for Babies and tries to return the proportionally to the same communities.

Lindsay said JRfm’s biggest fan base is in the Fraser Valley, so Langley is the perfect central location for the event.

The funds raised go to Food Banks BC for distribution to its member food banks while the merchandise goes to food banks in Langley and Surrey.



Heather Colpitts

About the Author: Heather Colpitts

Since starting in the news industry in 1992, my passion for sharing stories has taken me around Western Canada.
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