Four GoodGymers — Carol, Sheila, Helen, and new recruit Charlotte — lent a helping hand at the Baby Bank today. Although the bank was officially closed and not accepting public donations, quite a few still arrived, and their generous contributions were gratefully received.

With no corporate volunteers on site, it was down to the GoodGym crew to tackle the mountain of pre-sorted clothes needing a second check. Our volunteers sifted through piles of donated items, carefully sorting them into boxes ready for referrals, or into overflow bags when the boxes were full.

When we arrived, the tables were piled high — but thanks to everyone’s teamwork and determination, we left with most of them cleared. A productive and satisfying session!

Carol and the two Sheilas volunteered at the Baby Bank this morning. We were confronted with a huge piles of clothes on the table which had been through the first sort, but needed checking again and putting away in the boxes or overflow bags. Sheila K and Carol started at one end with the baby stuff, and Sheila started at the teenage end, and our aim was to meet in the middle. Which we managed to do by the end of the session - it's not often that we see that table clear. Next week's job will be to tackle all the new donations that have arrived in the last week or so, and fill the table up again!

It was business as usual at the Baby Bank this morning, and Carol, Karen and Sheila got straight down to work with our favourite task of clothes sorting! Looking out especially for girls clothing for 4- 6 year olds as these seem to be in short supply. Sheila came across a large bag of donated dresses which had all been hand-made from the most fabulous fabrics They were labelled as 'Dress a Girl Around the World'. A quick Google revealed that this organisation provides new dresses to families in poverty in various countries around the world. We were so pleased that someone decided to donate some to UK families as well and are in awe of their sewing skills

Five GoodGymers went to help at the Baby Bank this morning on a baking hot day. We started with an unusual request - to cut back the bushes in the car park so that the signs indicating the designated car parking spaces could be seen and stop any car parking wars breaking out with the other users on site. With a slightly dodgy pair of secateurs we did our best and managed to free up the signs on 4 car parking spaces. We then joined Karen and Helen doing our bread and butter activity - good old clothes sorting Kudos to those who decided to uphold the GoodGym ideals - Sheila K ran, Carol walked and Sheila A cycled to the task

At the Baby Bank this morning my first task was to clean a bike that had been donated but was covered in mud. A bucket of soapy water, a cloth, a brush and some elbow grease later, it was much cleaner and in a much more presentable state to be handed out. Afterwards I put together a referral for a 4 year old boy who will be gaining a baby brother next month, including some maternity clothes for his mum. I hope he enjoys his new toys

There were three GoodGymers helping at the Baby Bank today - Carol, Helen and Sheila K. Carol spent most of her time on her knees in one corner. No it wasn’t the naughty corner - she was diligently giving donated clothes a third and final check before folding them up and placing them in the appropriately labelled boxes. Meanwhile Helen and Sheila K were sizing, sorting and folding up a mountain of recyclable bags. Bags of fun for sure!