3000 items given away at triumphant Huntly baby bank open day
GORDON Rural Action's baby bank open day saw an "absolutely fantastic" response.
The event at Huntly's Stewarts Hall on Saturday, March 18 gave parents the chance to stock up on essential childcare equipment for free.
Parents were given over 3000 items from the baby bank, including clothes, playmats, bouncy chairs and more.
Gordon Rural Action's support service coordinator Kayleigh Nicholls said the event was well attended and she was thrilled with the takeup.
"We were so happy that so many people turned up," she said.
"A lot of hard work paid off.
"Everything just flew off the shelves.
"And some were taking clothes that will last their children for months and months – and that is what we want."
Volunteers played a key role in getting the Stewart's Hall ready for parents, giving up their free time to make the baby equipment available to all.
Ms Nicholls said: "We started setting up on the Friday night and finished just before 10 on the Saturday.
"Just seeing that we got a queue outside was just absolutely fantastic.
"The work the volunteers did in the weeks leading up was incredible.
"They painstakingly sorted everything into gender and size so we could lay things out in an organised fashion."
Those wanting to access the baby bank, based at 55 Gordon Street, do not need to be receiving benefits, as the service is open to all.
People can also return items withdrawn from the baby bank and donate without having to fill out forms.
"I think a lot of people thought that, to use the baby bank, you needed to be in receipt of some sort of benefit," Ms Nicholls said.
"It is not means tested at all, everyone is welcome to use the baby bank and all these things are available most of the time.
"Not only did we manage to hand out thousands of items, we also managed to advertise ourselves a bit better so people know they can come to us if they need something in the future."
After the incredible response last week, the baby bank is now looking for more donations of all kinds, other than clothes 0-9 months.
Gordon Rural Action is already looking towards another open day, which it plans to host in October.
Apart from the baby bank, the charity is also launching a Sports Kits for All scheme in April.
Operating like its Uniform Exchange, parents will be able to take whatever they need to get their kids involved in health and wellbeing activities.
Donation boxes are planned for the Meadows Pavilion, the Linden Centre, the Nordic Ski Centre, Gordon Primary and The Gordon Schools.
The Sports Kit programme is being ran together with Aberdeenshire Council.
Ms Nicholls saved her last kind words for those who brought the open day together.
She said: "A massive thank you to the volunteers and staff who gave up their time to help us get the event ready.
"Everyone was really really passionate and really helpful.
"We brought it together in quite a quick turnaround.
"We organised it all in about three weeks.
"Just seeing that everybody was really excited about this and was very grateful was fantastic.
"It was really worthwhile doing it."
