Office Address:
27578 40th Avenue
Aldergrove BC V4W 1V8
We could not be more thrilled and encouraged to have launched the Safe Families Canada in Lower Mainland Chapter in July 2023. We are excited to serve our community by keeping children safe and families together while ultimately pointing them to Jesus, where true hope and healing are found.
Chapter Director – Jennifer Gamache
Jennifer began with Safe Families Lower Canada in July 2023, passionate about seeing vulnerable children safe and families together. Adopted as a baby and then experiencing a difficult childhood, Jennifer experienced firsthand the life-changing impact of a compassionate community that walked alongside her and her family in a time of crisis. It is through loving Christian people reaching out and providing support that her family found Jesus, and it was the beginning of a complete transformation in the lives of her family. Jennifer desires to see others’ lives changed through radically compassionate communities. God has placed a deep love and care for the vulnerable in Jennifer’s heart with a desire to advocate for families. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to serve as the Lower Mainland Chapter Director and is excited to see all that God will do in the lives of families here in BC.
Jennifer graduated from Trinity Western University in Elementary Education and Psychology. She has worked with children for over 15 years in the classroom and church settings. Jennifer loves building one-on-one relationships and journeying life’s ups and downs with others. Jennifer has been happily married to her husband, Jeff, for 27 years, and they have three grown children. They live on a small Christmas tree farm in the Fraser Valley and enjoy adventuring outdoors together. Jennifer loves spending time with family, playing games and reading a good book with a warm cup of tea.
Family Coach Supervisor – Jessica Van ReesJess is thrilled to be a part of the Safe Families Canada team as the Family Coach Supervisor. Since her early 20s, Jess has felt a call to walk alongside struggling families with limited support systems in a practical way. This desire led her to complete a Bachelor’s degree in social work. After finishing her Bachelor’s degree, she worked in her local church with the high school ministry, which grew her love for intentional discipleship and helping people seek God in all moments of their day, big and small. Now, she is overjoyed to be in a position that emphasizes and prioritizes practical support, healthy relationships and intentional discipleship.
Jess lives with her husband, Adam, and loves serving in her local church, being active, drinking coffee, baking sourdough, and watching a good movie.
Family Placement Coordinator – Jessie Green
Jessie feels fortunate to work alongside such a committed team that believes in giving families the opportunity to thrive. By fostering a sense of community, she hopes to create a supportive environment where families can rebuild and flourish. Jessie is inspired by the resilience and courage of the families we serve, and is committed to walking alongside them on their path to healing and stability. She is grateful to see God’s hand working in each family’s life and is excited to see what He has in store for them all. Jessie completed her degree in Psychology and Human Services and has worked in both the school and healthcare system before coming to Safe Families. She lives with her husband, Connor, their puppy, Winnie, and loves spending time with her family and friends, outdoors, or with a good book and cup of tea.
Family Placement Coordinator – Kendra Schmunk
Kendra considers it such a joy and honour to be a part of the team at Safe Families Lower Mainland. From a young age, Kendra knew she was called to walk alongside others in their darkest moments, which led her to pursue a degree in social work in her early 20s. This passion came after experiencing adverse experiences in her own family and understanding the isolation that crisis can bring.
Throughout her schooling and early in her career, she worked with vulnerable populations including those within the child welfare system, survivors of intimate partner violence, grieving children and youth, and individuals affected by human trafficking and addiction.
Having worked in her local church for six years across diverse ministries as well, Kendra heard of Safe Families and knew she wanted to be a part of it. Safe Families perfectly aligned her passions for ministry, social work, and working with the family as a whole. She finds profound joy in walking alongside families, building relationships with them, offering support and compassion, helping them access resources and limiting barriers, while empowering them to navigate challenges and draw on their unique strengths. She can’t wait to see all God will continue to do in the Lower Mainland chapter and the families we serve.
Outside of work, Kendra enjoys crafting, cooking and baking, being outside, and spending time with her friends and family, all while remaining active in her local church community
Family Placement Coordinator – Claire Maljaars
Claire is very passionate about working with the whole family unit. Before starting with Safe Families Canada, she worked as a child protection social worker for seven years. She has seen the world’s brokenness and God’s redemption as a social worker. She is so excited to be able to serve families in our community and hopefully lead them to God in their healing journey. Claire loves meeting new people and getting to know their stories.
Claire recently got married and moved from the city to a dairy farm. She has adapted well to this lifestyle and now has chickens and ducks. Her world revolves around God, her four-year-old son, her 11-year-old stepdaughter and her husband. She is eager to grow Safe Families Canada in Langley, Abbotsford and Chilliwack.
Administrative Assistant – Aly Sawatzky
Aly is a wife and mom/foster mom to 3 very active little boys. She and her husband, Aaron, foster through Vancouver Aboriginal Children and Families. She was introduced to Safe Families Lower Mainland (Winter 2023) and knew immediately that she wanted to be involved in some capacity. Aly was hired in August 2023 as our Community Engagement coordinator who works to build relationships with churches, hosts info nights and manages our social media accounts.
Aly’s unique skill set stems from education, training and lived experience. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Sociology. She has worked for 15+ years with children with special needs & trauma. She comes from a family of 8 kids with a blend of biological, adopted and foster siblings. Aly was fortunate to grow up in the Church and feels passionate about seeing churches surrounding families in crisis and being the hands and feet of Jesus. She is committed to playing her part in keeping families strong and keeping children safe and supported, wherever possible, and out of foster care.
Leadership Council Members
Jess Wildeboer - Chair
Jules Van Woerden - Treasurer
Danielle Kampen - Secretary
Tammy Brandsma
Russ Toet
Erin Alger
Steve VanDelf
Kathleen Snyder
Marcia Wildeboer
Sylvia Welfing