Calgary group supporting twins, triplets and more for 50 years plans second-hand sale for families
This weekend it will host a massive sale for used clothes, toys and gear
They say it takes a village to raise a child, but it's an even more massive job for families raising more than one baby at a time.
That's why for 50 years the Twins, Triplets and More Association of Calgary has provided assistance to parents of multiples.
"Whatever it costs you to have one baby, now with two costs two times as much, with three costs you three times as much and so on," said presidnet Lee Neufeld.
"It can be quite draining at times, especially when there's a lot of things that you need two of or three of and things like child care and things like that goes up exponentially."
Neufeld, a father of three — including four-year-old fraternal twins and a six-month-old baby, says the help his family has received within the group is invaluable.
"With having twins and getting a lot of support from all these different parents, I wanted to give back, and I felt that being president of the association was a really good way to do that," he said.
By pulling on their network of about 500 members, the group is able to provide community support to families with multiples — which sometimes means bottle-feeding support, breastfeeding clinics and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) support.
It's common for multiples to spend some time in NICU, Neufeld says, so volunteers are there to bring food to families or lend a sympathetic ear when needed.
They've also run a scholarship program since 2017 for those planning to attend post-secondary or upgrading their learning.
Another way the group saves money for members is by offering discounts at businesses across the city and a donation pile at its office in southeast Calgary where families can pick up items such as clothes and equipment for free.
The group's online presence also connects people all over the city and beyond to items they might need.
"We need to swap equipment and stuff. It happens on a daily basis," said Neufeld on the Calgary Eyeopener.
This weekend the Twins, Triplets and More Association has its semi-annual sale at the Genesis Centre in northeast Calgary. The sale is cash-only, and shoppers will find items for children ranging from newborns to teenagers. The offerings will include used clothing, strollers, bouncy chairs, toys and books.
The sale runs from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.
With files from Taylor Simmons and the Calgary Eyeopener