It was another busy Friday at the Baby Bank. Six GoodGymers joined other regular volunteers plus a large group from a local company on a Social Responsibility Day. While Sarah was putting together referral packs for families, the others got on with sorting clothes. It was first time that Sheila K, Carol and Helen had been given this task but with help from old hands Carol and Sheila A, they quickly got to grips with ensuring that nothing got through that was dirt, too worn or too bobbly. We want to treat the recipient families with respect and only give them good quality clothes and equipment. Huge kudos to Sheila K for running all the way there - and all the way back!

Karen and Sheila went to help at the Baby Bank at the last session before the facility closes for a week. Karen took on sorting the shoe donations, checking them for wear and tear before putting them away in the appropriate box. There were several youngsters doing their voluntary section for their Duke of Edinburgh awards. They were checking clothes donations and Sheila was doing the secondary checks, trying her best to keep up with them before the piles toppled over!

Kate, Sheila K and Sheila A were all asked to put together referral packs at the Baby Bank. Kate was upstairs on clothes while the two Sheila's put together equipment, nappies and toiletries for 3 different families. Then we moved upstairs to help put together toys and books for a family of seven children. Yikes! Luckily a corporate group had been busy organising all the books into age groups which made our task so much easier. Hopefully the goodies we found for them will provide the stimulation their social worker says they need

Karen and Helen worked their way through five crates of very cute toddler shoes to ensure they were all good enough quality to be given out. Meanwhile, Carys and Sheila K worked through the crates of larger shoes making sure they were not too worn or scuffed and in pairs. Sheila A was doing a final check on piles of sorted clothes and making sure that the boxes for referrals were topped up. Another busy morning at the Baby Bank!

Today at the Baby Bank we were all on clothes-checking duty and/or preparing referrals. Rebecca gave us all a reminder talk on the need to remain vigilant to ensure that no poor quality garments get through the checking process. Unfortunately many of the donations are dirty, too worn or zips don't work, and the Baby Bank prides itself on only giving out good quality clothes. I think we were all extra-picky for the rest of the session

As ever, the Baby Bank had a busy morning. Mark was in the Toy Room putting together toy packs for different age groups. I didn't catch up with Sarah, but I presume she was clothes -sorting. Meanwhile Carys and Sheila were downstairs answering the door, and getting to grips with which items we can and cannot accept, and checking that incoming cots and buggys had all the bits and pieces and were fit for purpose. I think we were all a bit frazzled by the end of the morning!