Kelowna

It stands to reason that a company called Baby & Me would care an awful lot about babies.

Baby & Me recently held a soon to be annual charity event at the store to raise funds for the Kelowna Food Bank's Tiny Bundles program.

Photo: Contributed - Kelowna Food Bank

The Blevens family drop off Perlimpinpin sleep sacs at the Food Bank for the Tiny Bundles program.

“As a local retailer, we know we have a great opportunity and responsibility to make a difference in the community,” says Nicole Blevens, Baby & Me co-owner. 

“As parents and local small business owners, we want to help young moms; the Food Bank is the best organization to partner with.”

This year's event raised enough money for Baby & Me to donate $12,000 in baby sleep sacs to the program.

“We carry several brands and sizes from Newborn up to 5T. The Perlimpinpin sleep sacs are made of bamboo, so they are antibacterial and breathable, great for year-round use.”

The Food Bank’s Tiny Bundles program supports pregnant women and families with children under the age of one. There is nothing like it in the Central Okanagan.

“We can’t thank Baby & Me enough for this incredible donation,” says Food Bank’s Associate Executive Director Lenetta Parry. “This is the start of a wonderful partnership.”

The Food Bank delivers, on average, 100 layettes per year. They are given to new moms and come stocked with baby essentials like clothing, blankets, toys, books and even a set of children's cutlery.

Mothers in need will also receive weekly hampers containing milk, eggs, cheese, fresh fruits and vegetables. Public health nurses attend every other Friday, connecting new moms to important newborn health services, weighing babies, tracking infant health and answering questions.

“We are troubled to hear that many new moms in Kelowna cannot afford some of the baby essentials that we take for granted,” says Blevens.

“Not only are we committed to supplying the program, we feel strongly about educating new moms about important issues like Crib Death. The sleep sac is a wearable blanket, endorsed by the SIDS Foundation, that eliminates the need for blankets in the crib. This greatly reduces the risk of SIDS and helps ensure that the baby stays warm and safe while asleep.”

Baby & Me is a locally owned baby and kids store, located at 1969 Harvey Avenue, across from London Drugs.