Country stars will be performing in Langley this weekend to raise money for babies across the Lower Mainland.
JoJo Mason, The Washboard Union, Leaving Thomas, Sons of Daughters, and Kadooh are bringing tunes to the Langley Events Centre on Saturday, Dec. 15 for the JRfm Holiday Fun Day, which raises money for the Basics for Babies charity.
Mason, who started in the country music industry three years ago, performed at Basics for Babies in the past and called the event “an incredible cause.”
“It’s bringing communities together and it’s also an incredible time for the kids to come out. [The] times we live in, unfortunately, people have to go without. It’s great for us to be able to give back.”
And playing close to home is the best place to be, according to Mason, who lives in the Clayton Heights area.
“The hometown love, especially in B.C., is magical. The people that come out to support, especially to smaller events like this, are the people who are going to stick with you for years and years. There’s no better place than playing at home.”
Country artists Dallas Smith and Chad Brownlee will also be at the event to play a game of Family Feud with the audience.
Basics for Babies is a non-profit that is partnered with Food Banks BC to collect and distribute food and supplies to babies in need across the Lower Mainland.
WATCH BELOW: Last year’s Basics for Babies
Promotions director for JRfm, Terra Paredes said the event is unique.
“There is no other program like it in B.C., so if we stopped doing it, there’d be a lot of hungry, unhappy babies.”
The campaign is in its 24th annual year, and Paredes explained it was formed in 1994 when the previous JRfm radio station manager recognized a need for baby products in Lower Mainland food banks.
“Last year we met the need of all 11 food banks in the Lower Mainland that we work with. This year, any excess will go to food banks within B.C., but outside the Lower Mainland,” Paredes explained.
Last year, the event raised approximately $48,000 and filled two food bank trucks.
Paredes has been a part of the event for seven years and said she “can’t imagine not being able to feed or diaper my babies,” as she too, is a mother.
“It’s not something most people think of when they immediately go to the food bank. They don’t think diapers and formulas, they think beans, and pasta, and canned stuff. And little babies can’t take that stuff.”
Besides country music performances, the event has a variety of entertainment for all ages with a photo booth, Langley Gymnastics Foundation gym circuit, bouncy castles, caricaturist, a BC Lions meet-and-greet, Darth Vader and storm troopers, children’s Christmas crafts, Vancouver Giants, World Lacrosse Championships, and of course, Santa Claus.
The event runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Langley Events Centre and admission is by donation – either cash or single-use baby items such as diapers, formula, and baby food to the campaign.
For more information, visit https://www.jrcountry.ca/basics-for-babies/
