Convoy of cribs crosses Canada for benefit of low-income Calgarians

Low-income parents will be tucking their toddlers into cribs instead of dresser drawers and laundry baskets thanks to Dorel Distribution Canada's (DDC's) donation of 120 cribs and 54 crib mattresses.

The shipment of cribs arrived at NeighbourLink in northeast Calgary all the way from eastern Canada on Feb. 7, followed by their counterparts on Feb. 16.

DDC President Mark Robbins first heard about NeighbourLink's baby program and its wait-list for cribs in an article on CBC Calgary's website last December.

"We were struck by the urgent need of the crib wait-list and were more than pleased to try and help fill the void as quickly as possible," said Robbins. "Dorel's focus has always been the health and welfare of our children. It is an honour for us to participate in this worthy initiative."

DDC contacted Linda Woody, Communications Manager with the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, to facilitate the donation.

The rest is history in the making, as now NeighbourLink clients will only have to wait a handful of days instead of several months to receive cribs.

"We were so excited when we first got the call from JPMA telling us about Dorel's generous offer," said NeighbourLink's Manager of Volunteer Resources, LeeAnne Alexander. "Receiving this size of donation completely free of charge for NeighbourLink is such a blessing. Dorel has covered all the costs involved with this shipment - all we have to do is make sure the babies who need these cribs have them as soon as possible."

The cribs and mattresses were transported courtesy of Canadian Freightways, a TransForce Company (TSX: TFI-T). DDC is a division of Dorel Industries Inc. (TSX: DII.A; DII.B), which is the world's largest manufacturer of car seats, as well as a lead-manufacturer of many other juvenile products.