A Vancouver-based charity has opened a new location in Surrey.
BabyGoRound officially opened its new digs in Cloverdale Feb. 20.
The charity expanded because of a "staggering need" to help the many struggling parents south of the Fraser River.
“More parents outside Vancouver are telling us they simply can’t afford the essentials to keep their babies safe,” said Meghan Neufeld, BabyGoRound executive director. “This expansion is about bringing our services to the areas where we're needed most—Surrey, Langley and other communities … (outside) of Vancouver.”
BabyGoRound distributes much needed baby items like car seats, cribs, and strollers to low-income parents.
Neufeld said their Vancouver location on Kingsway has seen a nearly 150% increase in usage over the past three years. She added almost half of the referrals came from the Fraser Valley. In 2024, she noted, more than half the families they served were from Surrey. Now the Cloverdale location means BabyGoRound will be able to better serve those parents and others in the wider Fraser Valley.
Neufeld said they are excited to welcome both new agencies that are partnering with them and new parents.
"For me personally, it's a very proud moment," she said. "I've lived in the Fraser Valley my entire life. I knew from day one when I started working (at BabyGoRound) I wanted to open a second location to serve the families out here."
She added that she's confident the Surrey-Langley area will support the new location.
Mayor Brenda Locke was on hand for the opening. She said Cloverdale is the perfect location for a not-for-profit like BabyGoRound because of the growing population of Surrey and the young families that are moving to the area.
"This is huge for Cloverdale and it's huge for Surrey," noted Locke. "Having this resource for moms is just incredible. I’m so grateful it's here. Having a resource that helps the smallest people in our community is very important. We have the most refugees of anywhere in British Columbia. So, this will help those folks too."
She added Surrey is the fastest growing area in Metro Vancouver and there are a lot of young families that are struggling because of the affordability crisis.
"This is the greatest example of 'It takes a village,’ and I think this location will get a lot of use."
Neufeld said BabyGoRound Cloverdale is also looking for volunteers. She said people can help in any capacity.
"One thing I personally really love about BabyGoRound is that we can offer a way for everybody to give back," she explained. "There's a way for everybody to make an impact.”
She said they have many different roles to fill and are eagerly waiting to hear from potential volunteers.
Neufeld said she'd like to thank Social Venture Partners, Park Place Foundation, and the Face the World Foundation as being instrumental in helping them get off the ground in Cloverdale.
She also said anyone who wants to donate gently used baby items can visit their location in Cloverdale every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. She said they also take donations on the last Saturday of every month, also from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The organization’s top 10 requested baby items are: bassinets, playmats, diaper bags, strollers, sleepers, bath tubs, change pads, bouncy chairs, infant carriers, and nursing pillows.
BabyGoRound started in 2012 and has helped more than 14,000 families since then. They help families as far away as Squamish and Hope.
BabyGoRound Cloverdale is located at #105 - 17670 65A Avenue. For more info on their services, or to volunteer, call 604-558-4840, or visit babygoround.ca.
