New Westminster Family Place has been striving to make a difference in the lives of local families for 25 years.
Family Place offers a range of services, including drop-ins for children up to the age of five, parent education programs, a clothing exchange and a toy-lending library.
“I get all sorts of compliments every week. I think people take from the program what they need,” said executive director Marjorie Staal. “Some parents would come every two or three weeks and enjoy the program and learn what they need. Some come more often.”
According to Staal, former Coquitlam-Maillardville MLA Diane Thorne was working in the area and heard a lot of questions from parents about issues such teething and feeding. An interagency team was formed and looked into the matter.
“It was three years in the planning. It was definitely thought through,” Staal said. “It started in the health unit.”
In the past 25 years, Family Place has moved a number of times, settling into its current digs at 93 Sixth St. 10 years ago.
“We have found that with the current program at the main site, there are needs in the neighbourhoods,” Staal said. “It’s a little bit more work to come down here – the hill, the parking.”
Drop-ins are held at the main site Monday through Saturday, giving parents a chance to connect with other parents and take part in parent education programs
“We have parent education programs every week,” Staal said. “We have different ones.”
Along with early child educators, a family support worker is also available to answer some of the questions parents may have.
“She helps families with issues they are having. She has referrals. She send parents to other agencies to be referred,” she said. "We have two early childhood educators who work with families and talk with parents in the playroom about stages of development.”
While parents pick up tips or get ideas where they can access other community resources, children have a ball in the playroom, Staal added.
“They learn to socialize, they learn to share, they learn to play with other children,” she said. “They do a lot of art projects, craft projects. Our circle times are phenomenal.”
In addition to its main location, New Westminster Family Place has branched out to set up satellite operations at the Food Bank (Tuesdays and Wednesdays) and Lord Kelvin Elementary School (Thursdays and Fridays while school is in session). It also operates a Mother Goose program at community centres and the library.
Funding is always a challenge for nonprofits like Family Place, which relies on fundraising and donations to keep it going. Family Place recently had to end a program for grandparents taking care of their children, after losing United Way funding for the program.
New Westminster Family Place is holding a pub night fundraiser and silent auction on Thursday, June 26 at the Paddlewheeler Pub. Tickets are $25 (including a burger and a beer/wine) and are available by calling Family Place at 604- 520-3666.
