Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Community Services is expanding, and will open a new location in Pitt Meadows.
Vicki Kipps, executive director, said the non-profit society serves about 7,000 people a year between the two cities, and about one in five is in Pitt Meadows.
She said the new location will help Pitt Meadows clients who may have trouble getting into Maple Ridge.
“It reduced that barrier. We are right here in Pitt Meadows.”
The society also has a close relationship with Katzie First Nation, she told Pitt Meadows council at a meeting earlier this month.
Community services has been serving both communities for about 45 years, and operates with both professional staff and volunteers.
The organization works in child development, teaching parents coping skills, and helping understand age development and communication, she said.
“We’re keeping families together.”
The organization also supports seniors with meal delivery and visitations.
“It is far more about the relationship and the social connection than the meal itself.”
For youth, the organization has a brown bag lunch program in schools, and recruited a pediatric psychiatrist from Vancouver to offer services at its offices on a regular basis, and other programs and services. Community services has also recently taken over the administration of the restorative justice program.
The new location will be located at 230–19150 Lougheed Hwy.