OLIVER, B.C. — An Oliver mother and her children faced a near-death experience. They regained a new appreciation for life and wanted to give back to the community. One year ago, Bibiana Bailey started a non-profit called You Deserve More where the family creates food hampers and delivers them to those in need.
“There are moms who have way too much pride,” says Bailey. “They don’t want their neighbours to know they don’t go to the food bank so what’s there to do, right? We are the perfect solution for them.”
Twice a month, Bailey and her sons fill cardboard boxes up to the brim with groceries and brings the hampers straight to the people’s doors.
This charity work started shortly after a traumatizing event.
Bailey’s youngest son, who was nine at the time, got struck by a SUV in front of their home while waiting for the school bus.
Sam spent several days in hospital and still deals with the effects of a brain injury.
“I have short-term memory now and I can’t really focus on stuff,” he explains.
Besides physical and mental injuries, he also faced emotional turmoil, falling into severe depression.
“I thought that I wouldn’t be able to get through in life and it was pretty much over.”
Sam’s oldest brother witnessed the event and also became depressed.
“I couldn’t function for a few weeks after and I’m still having problems with it. The fact that we can do this, it is really nice,” Trevor says, referring to the charity work.
The power of giving has lifted the entire family’s spirits.
They say their favourite part is delivering the groceries to the families and seeing their faces light up.
Tegan Konradson, a single mother, has recently started receiving the hampers.
She says she appreciates the fresh produce and door-to-door deliveries.
“At the food bank, you can get canned beans and it’s cold to walk all the way there because I don’t drive. I don’t want my daughter to stand in the cold,” Konradson says.
You Deserve More receives some support from businesses and silent auction fundraisers.
But the Baileys pays for 80% of the costs, spending about $1,000 of their own money each month.
“We are fortunate that both my kids are here and we’ve been fortunate that we can help others.”
The Baileys are planning the special Christmas hampers and holding a fundraiser Saturday, December 6 at The Dance Studio in Oliver from 10 am – 4 pm.
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