The announcement was made Thursday that the Community Development Council of Quinte will bring their “Good Baby Box” program to North Hastings.
They will be partnering with North Hastings Children’s Services Early ON Child and Family Centre for the depot location. Program Coordinator Bev Heuving tells My Bancroft Now she is excited to bring this program to the area and ” partner with an agency who prides itself on providing quality child care services for the families in the Bancroft region.” She adds that “it’s a natural fit” to bring the program to Bancroft and partner with Children’s Services.
Program Coordinator with Children’s Services Nicole Beaudin says it’s important to make this program available to people locally. She says some families have to drive to Belleville or further to get the baby products they need.  “Us being able to bring it (to the area) for them is very helpful,” she says. “We wanted to ensure that families in Bancroft and surrounding area of Hastings County have the availability to purchase those items,” Heuving adds.
Heuving describes the program as “a weekly program that helps families stretch their baby food budget and is available to families who reside in Hastings and/or Prince Edward Counties.” Since 2018, the weekly program has distributed 9,925 good baby boxes to 1,499 children in Hastings and Prince Edward Counties. The program distributes diapers, wipes, shampoos, lotion and baby food among other things, Heuving says. “We have a wide range of products that are available,” she explains. Heuving adds that families can save around 40- to 45-percent on the cost of the products or around $1,200 thanks to the program.
Heuving and Beaudin note that this program is open to everyone in the community. There is no assessment, judgement or stigma attached to this program. The child is the one that is registered, not the parents, they both explain.
Beaudin says that anyone with questions about the program is welcome to visit Children’s Services at 20 Hastings Heritage Way or visit their website for more information.