As increasing numbers of women and children fleeing violence in the Ukraine arrive to Vancouver, the turn to offer up practical support is now ours. Following the example of the many parents in Poland who left strollers and other baby items at train stations for families arriving from the Ukraine, we are committed to meeting the great need of many parents arriving to Vancouver who have left everything behind.

We will be partnering with the Canadian Red Cross as part of a network of organizations that will collaborate to ensure families who have been displaced by war in the Ukraine are warmly welcomed to Canada, and get the supports they need as they settle in the Lower Mainland. Strategic partnership with organizations on the front-lines of social impact work has always been a core principle of our organization, and it is how we strive to most effectively support Ukrainian families arriving to Vancouver during this time of great need.

We are calling on our local community to help us do this by bringing in your baby gear and donating so we can effectively support these families. We do expect the volume of need to rise as BabyGoRound will support every family with young children arriving in Vancouver to get them set up to safely care for their infants and toddlers. We will also continue to run our regular program without disruption during this time to the many families facing poverty and other vulnerability factors who rely on our services.

Simply put, we will need your support more than ever to ensure we can provide families with everything they need. Your gently used strollers, bassinets, bouncy chairs, exersaucers, infant carriers, nursing pillows, small high chairs, baby bath tubs, bedding and blankets, diaper bags, books, toys, and clothing up to age 3 years — bring it all. How else can you help? Organize a drive: tell your friends and neighbours with young children who have outgrown these items, contact your child’s daycare or preschool and ask if they can add this to their newsletters, post on your social media accounts, or collect at your place of work.

Financial donations may also be made and will primarily be put towards purchasing new car seats for Ukrainian families. If you would like to work with us on this, as an individual or business, please get in touch lisa@babygoround.ca.