Nothing but growth for the Okotoks group 'It Takes a Village' and there are no plans to slow down now.

Since the December 2014 start date 'It Takes a Village' has donated 107 baby boxes, started a car seat program and are planning a launch for a crib program in the new year.

Leah Sampson, founding president of the It Takes a Village Okotoks Community Foundation says hitting the 100 mark recently felt amazing.

"I'm not sure what we expected when we started, we knew there was a need and we knew if we built it people would come and just to see the baby box come this far in two years is amazing...I was born and raised here and to see our community come together is phenomenal."

The group is not only supporting families with babies within the Foothills but they are also doing it in a sustainable way, Sampson says there are a number of reasons why they prefer second hand clothing.

"We prefer gently used because we are from Okotoks and we do recycle here and re-purposing and reusing and paying forward is one of those philosophies. So if we can keep the clothing out of the dump first it would be ideal, if it's already made we don't have to go out and buy it again."

The baby boxes have a retail value of over $1000.00 each and a fair market used clothing value of $350.00 each.

Along with the baby boxes, thanks to a grant from the Foothills Salvage and Recycling Society, eight families received brand new car seats and with an additional grant from the Sheep River Health Trust cribs from Ikea will soon be available to families that may need them.

Sampson says with such success in the first two years the not for profit organization has a need for new members.

"We are now opening the floor up for members to come and join so that they can also lead the direction of where It Takes a Village Okotoks Community Foundation goes in the future because there may be other needs that we can't see."

An AGM meeting is planned for January 30 and if anyone is interested in joining they are asked to like the group's Facebook page for updates.

Also if families needs the support that 'It Takes a Village' offers they can contact them through Facebook, by phone at 587-364-2005 or by email at takesavillageokotoks@gmail.com.

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