Another busy morning at the Baby Bank. Alain and Vikie helped out downstairs, packing away donations of toiletries etc, and then moving the buggies to make room for the pyjama appeal donations which are coming in thick and fast Meanwhile Sheila was upstairs doing a second check on the clothes donations, and putting some emergency referrals together. Our help was much appreciated

At the Baby Bank, it was collection day today for the bags of donated clothes which had been rejected as being unsuitable. So we all got a great work out, carrying dozens of bags out to the collection van, which was filled to the gunnels by the end. This was Alain's first visit to their new location, and it was straight in at the deep end. With this being the last day of opening before the half term break, everything was extremely busy with people dropping off items in response to appeals for certain items as well as referrals being collected. Including a family sent by their midwife to pick up clothes and equipment for a newborn before being induced the next day! Talk about just in time! It all brought home how vital a service the Baby Bank provides Kudos to Alain for cycling the (very!) long way round to the Baby Bank and for getting stuck into clothes sorting

Mark and Sheila helped out at the Baby Bank this morning. They had a team of 10 corporate volunteers also helping out, who were doing the primary clothes sorting. We were kept on our toes answering all their questions and making sure they were kept busy Sheila was putting the sorted piles of clothes away in the boxes before the piles toppled over, while Mark was searching through the adults clothing, looking for adult warm coats to be given to refugees staying locally. A very busy morning

Abbi, Mark and Sheila helped out the Baby Bank this morning. The first task was to take the box full of Christmas clothing, which had been put aside for the last 10 months, and sort them into the correct boxes for selection for referrals going out in the next couple of months. After all, it's only 75 days to go! After a welcome mug of tea made by Abbi, Mark and Sheila settled down to our usual clothes sorting routine, whilst Abbi had fun with the toys

At the Baby Bank this morning, Carol and Sheila were set the task of sorting out all the carrier bags which were in a total mess. There were 2 large boxes of bags which needed to be re-sorted and grouped together so that the volunteers can find the bags they need for referrals without getting frustrated. The charity gets through so many bags - in the last 3 months, the Baby Bank has helped 1800 individuals, and much is supplied in bags. We got rid of a whole load of bags that were broken or unsuitable. Order was restored! Meanwhile Mark was sorting through toy donations, followed by a stint on shoes. Carol and Sheila then moved onto sizing all the donated hand-knitted jumpers and hats, and putting them in the correct boxes Fridays are nothing if not varied!

Mark, Abbi, Carol and Sheila all went to help out at the Baby Bank this morning. Our treat for the day was to help transfer all the bags of rejected clothing from upstairs down to the van outside the front door. We formed a human chain, and Abbi got the fun job of rolling the bags down the stairs to another volunteer. I forgot to count the bags, but there were an awful lot of them, and we were all quite exhausted by the time the van drove away. It's sad that we have to reject so many donations because they are not clean or in good enough condition, but at least they are being re-purposed and the Baby Bank received over £200 with which they can buy things like cot mattresses, which need to be given out new. Abbi moved on to sorting out shoe donations, Mark was on school uniform, Carol was on clothes donations, and Sheila was on final checking and putting together referral packs. A very busy morning, but productive